What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Stow
People
Population	2,183Highest	535Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S.	57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S.
	Stow 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%	15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and Stow 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%	37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stow 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%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%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kHighest 32% below U.S.	$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Ashland and Stow 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.	$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Highest 59% above U.S.	$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Stow 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	51 minHighest 95% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest 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 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.