Compare towns
Ashland vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
8,189Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Framingham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest 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 |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Blackstone Valley | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.