What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Newburgh
People
Population	1,080Lowest	1,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME	45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average
	Ashland and Newburgh 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%	18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Newburgh 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%	21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8%	4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME	$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME	$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$950±$219 17% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Lowest 50% below ME	$2,748Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Newburgh 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%	11.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.4%±3.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newburgh and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.