What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).

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	Maynard
People
Population	18,873Highest	10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ashland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Maynard 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	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
	Ashland and Maynard 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	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA	$8,266Highest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Maynard 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%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and Ashland 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	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Maynard
High school in town	Ashland High	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.7Lowest
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.