What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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	Grafton	Ashland
People
Population	19,902Highest	18,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA
	Ashland and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA
	Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA	$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Lowest 19% above MA	$7,444Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Grafton 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	#67 of 282 in MA	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Ashland
High school in town	Grafton High School	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.