What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southborough has the highest household income ($197k).

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	Southborough	Ashland
People
Population	10,493Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.7Highest 9% above MA	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Southborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$196,808±$16kHighest 89% above MA	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,100±$51kHighest 46% above MA	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,496±$309Highest 42% above MA	$2,452±$298Lowest 39% above MA
	Southborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±15Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	31%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 282 in MA	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Southborough	Ashland
High school in town	None in town	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.0
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.