What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Ashfield has the most kids (12.4% under 18).

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	Orleans	Ashfield
People
Population	1,480Lowest	1,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	64±8.9Highest 60% above MA	58.6±3.4Lowest 47% above MA
	Orleans and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9%	33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Orleans and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9%	1.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,359±$16kLowest 25% below MA	$80,833±$16kHighest 22% below MA
	Ashfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$582,000±$111kHighest 4% above MA	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA	$1,100±$200Highest 38% below MA
	Ashfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,427Lowest 43% below MA	$5,197Highest 13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest MA: 10%	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 35% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	25.9%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6%	24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Orleans and Ashfield 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	#158 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	—	None in town
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.