Compare towns
Ashland vs Sutton vs Stoneham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Sutton | Stoneham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
9,452Lowest |
23,355 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Sutton and Stoneham 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Stoneham 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Stoneham 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashland 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Framingham 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Sutton | Stoneham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Sutton High School | Stoneham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.