What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Franklin
People
Population	1,080Lowest	1,628Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average
	Ashland and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Franklin and Ashland 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%	25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Ashland and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Franklin 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	$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME
	Franklin 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±$49kLowest 58% below ME	$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$888±$306 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Lowest 50% below ME	$2,231Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin 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%	15.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	76.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin 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.