Compare towns
Ashland vs Chatham vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Chatham has the highest household income ($66k).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.
| Measure | Ashland | Chatham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
430Lowest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9k 32% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,690 18% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.