What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	18,873Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Northbridge 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	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Ashland and Northbridge 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	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 24% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Northbridge
High school in town	Ashland High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.