What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Williamstown
People
Population	18,873Highest	9,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA	$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average
	Ashland and Williamstown 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	$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 24% above MA	$5,290Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Williamstown 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%	11.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	16 minLowest 45% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Williamstown 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	#45 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Mount Greylock
High school in town	Ashland High	Mt Greylock Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.