What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($125k median).

Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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	Danforth
People
Population	1,080Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME	$48,125±$8kHighest 36% below ME
	Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,000±$49kHighest 58% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$629±$29 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Highest 50% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.