Compare towns
Ashland vs Natick vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.
| Measure | Ashland | Natick | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
36,873Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Natick and Stoneham 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Natick and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Stoneham 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Stoneham 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Natick | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Natick High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.