What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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	Hartland
People
Population	2,183Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S.	55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S.
	Hartland and Ashland 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%	16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hartland and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S.	$86,136±$23kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Hartland 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.	$348,600±$39kHighest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S.	$6,437Highest 106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Hartland 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%	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartland and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#29 of 70 in VT
School district	Ashland School District	Hartland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.