What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).

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

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	Chapman	Ashland
People
Population	388Lowest	1,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.7% ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME
	Ashland and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ashland and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Chapman and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME	$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME	$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME
	Chapman and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,850Highest 39% below ME	$1,511Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	25.7%±27.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ashland and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 6% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Chapman and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.