What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Sharon
People
Population	2,183Highest	1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.
	Sharon 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%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashland and Sharon 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%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashland and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S.	$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S.	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average
	Sharon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S.	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Sharon 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%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon 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	Sharon 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.