Compare towns
Ashland vs Needham vs Foxborough
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Foxborough has the most renters (26.3% rent).
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 | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
32,459Highest |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Needham and Foxborough 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 23% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
| Ashland and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ashland 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Needham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Needham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.