What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).

Ashford has the most affordable homes ($195k 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	Mendon	Ashford
People
Population	1,113Lowest	1,834Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.	52.3±6.9Lowest 34% above U.S.
	Mendon and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.	$77,558±$11kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Mendon and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.	$194,600±$43kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.	$654±$132Lowest 54% below U.S.
	Mendon and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,079Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19.4%±79.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
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.