What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Van Buren has the most people working from home (8.3%).

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	Van Buren
People
Population	1,080Lowest	1,858Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±9.1Lowest 19% above ME	56±3.2Highest 25% above ME
	Van Buren and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Van Buren and Ashland 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%	35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Van Buren 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%	10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Van Buren 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	$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME
	Ashland and Van Buren 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	$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME
	Ashland and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$733±$141 36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,511Highest 50% below ME	$1,415Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	40.7%±11Highest ME: 48.4%
	Van Buren 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%	23%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 14% below ME	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.3%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Van Buren and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 88/MSAD 24
High school in town	—	Van Buren District Secondary Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
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.