What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville
People
Population	18,873Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville 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 U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Ashland 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 U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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±$11kHighest 58% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 139% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Ashland	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Ashland High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.