What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Williamstown	Ashland
People
Population	9,150Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA	42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average	$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA	$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,290Lowest 12% below MA	$7,444Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 45% below MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Williamstown and Ashland 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	#45 of 282 in MA	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Mount Greylock	Ashland
High school in town	Mt Greylock Regional High	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.0Highest
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.