What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Mapleton	Ashby
People
Population	1,884Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
	Ashby and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mapleton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.
	Ashby and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Mapleton 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	North Middlesex
High school in town	None 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.