What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wade has the most people working from home (10.1%).

Ashland has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Wade	Ashland
People
Population	244Lowest	1,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.7% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME	53.4±9.1Lowest 19% above ME
	Wade and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wade and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4%	32.2%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Wade and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME	$46,838±$15kHighest 37% below ME
	Ashland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$157,100±$109kHighest 47% below ME	$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME
	Wade and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Highest 45% below ME	$1,511Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	25.7%±27.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ashland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 37% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	10.1%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9%	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wade and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.