What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).

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	Unity
People
Population	1,080Lowest	1,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±9.1Lowest 37% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Unity 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 U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.2%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Unity 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,838±$15kLowest 42% below U.S.	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,000±$49kLowest 62% below U.S.	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,625±$804 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Lowest 52% below U.S.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Unity and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Unity School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.