What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k 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	Wellfleet	Ashfield
People
Population	4,404Highest	1,893Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA
	Ashfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%	33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	52%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$597Highest 11% below MA	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA	$5,197Highest 13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5% MA: 62.5%	85.5% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wellfleet	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.