What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most kids (14.3% under 18).

Oakfield has the most people working from home (5.6%).

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	Oakfield
People
Population	1,080Highest	629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±9.1Lowest 19% above ME	57.7±6.3Highest 29% above ME
	Oakfield and Ashland 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%	10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Ashland and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.2%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%	36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Oakfield and Ashland 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%	10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,838±$15kHighest 37% below ME	$46,378±$3kLowest 38% below ME
	Ashland and Oakfield 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	$144,300±$46kHighest 51% below ME
	Oakfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$592±$261 48% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Highest 50% below ME	$1,272Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Highest ME: 48.4%	21.6%±13.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Ashland and Oakfield 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%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	69.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 4 yrs older than ME	1973 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 14% below ME	19 minLowest 25% below ME
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±4.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Oakfield 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.