What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k 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	Whitman
People
Population	18,873Highest	15,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA	40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Ashland and Whitman 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Whitman 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%	15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Whitman 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%	31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Whitman 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 23% above MA	$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA
	Ashland and Whitman 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	$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,771±$151Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 24% above MA	$5,824Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Whitman 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	36 minLowest 24% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#191 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Ashland High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0	—
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.