Compare towns
Ashland vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hopkinton has the most kids (29.5% 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.
| Measure | Ashland | Needham | Ogunquit | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
19,358 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.8±1.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopkinton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
77.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$222,801±$22kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$802,700±$39k 141% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,641±$361Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.4%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hopkinton 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | — | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | — | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | — | 14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.