Compare towns
Ashland vs Raynham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Raynham has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% 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 | Raynham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
15,505Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
42.9±1.5Highest 7% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Raynham 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% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham 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 MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Ashland and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$524,400±$29kLowest 7% below MA |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Framingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,749±$74Lowest about the MA average |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,752Lowest 13% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Framingham 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Bridgewater-Raynham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 12.7Lowest |
| 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.