What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most kids (21% under 18).

Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).

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	Pelham	Ashfield
People
Population	1,335Lowest	1,893Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ashfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	52%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA
	Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA
	Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA
	Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 25% above MA	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest MA: 10%	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pelham	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	None 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.