The Town FilesAshland, Massachusetts
Town in Middlesex County · population 18,832 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $611,700
- Household income
- $127,539
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.1
Ashland is a town of 18,832 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $611,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 84% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $611,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $127,539, which is more affordable than 43% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,452 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $611,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,452 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $127,539 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.8% | — |
| Work from home | 22.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 36.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,231 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Ashland
5 public schools with 2,903 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland High | 9-12 | 870 | 14.3 |
| Ashland Middle | 6-8 | 679 | 12.8 |
| David Mindess | 3-5 | 667 | 13.3 |
| Henry E Warren Elementary | K-2 | 611 | 13.0 |
| William Pittaway Elementary | PK-PK | 76 | 9.5 |
Towns near Ashland
- Cordaville, MA2.7 mi · 2,703 people · home $765,900
- Hopkinton, MA3.4 mi · 2,651 people · home $666,400
- Framingham, MA4.0 mi · 72,362 people · home $627,300
- Southborough, MA4.0 mi · 10,450 people · home $821,100
- Hopkinton, MA4.1 mi · 18,758 people · home $802,700
- Holliston, MA4.4 mi · 14,996 people · home $650,300
- Sherborn, MA5.4 mi · 4,401 people · home $1,026,800
- Natick, MA6.6 mi · 37,006 people · home $821,000
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 67% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 52%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $611,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $127,539, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $2,452 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 48.3 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)