What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Ashland has the most expensive 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	Danforth	Ashland
People
Population	666Lowest	1,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	14.3%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kHighest 36% below ME	$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME
	Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME	$125,000±$49kHighest 58% below ME
	Ashland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29 45% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME	$1,511Highest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4%	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Danforth 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.