What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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	Framingham	Ashland
People
Population	72,399Highest	18,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA	$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA
	Framingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 15% above MA	$7,444Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Ashland
High school in town	Framingham High School	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.