What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Mansfield
People
Population	18,873Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 24% above MA	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Mansfield
High school in town	Ashland High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.