Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0In Ashland, 75% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Ashland’s town government spent $88.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,949 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Ashland is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$4,949 per resident in 2022: more than 65% of them
Ashland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,949 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,531, and the middle half spent $3,716–$5,278. Ashland spent more than 65% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Ashland itself left out).
About $4,949 per resident a year, or $13.56 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 58% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Ashland runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
No trend yet
Ashland reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, up from 583 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
The typical homeowner pays $7,444 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.22% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ashland’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Ashland’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Ashland →
Who’s in charge in Ashland
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Ashland’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on ashlandmass.com ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 30 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (17,887).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Ashland School District
Ashland’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Ashland, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $18,902 per pupil, $11,841 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Ashland voted in 2024
Official results for Ashland’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat67.7%6,589 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican30.0%2,921 votesOthers: 2.3% (226 votes).
Most votes in Ashland: Kamala D Harris
Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Ashland’s 12,956 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Ashland: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Middlesex County: Warren 66.5%, Deaton 33.3% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Ashland, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 67.7% | 30.0% | 2.3% | 9,736 |
| Middlesex County | 68.0% | 28.9% | 3.1% | 814,832 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Ashland.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: ashlandmass.com ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Ashland compares with the towns next door
Ashland spent $4,949 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,798 to $5,708. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Sherborn | $4,798 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Framingham | $5,023 runs schools | $6,884 |
| Southborough | $5,276 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Hopkinton | $5,708 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Ashland | $4,949 | $7,444 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Ashland’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Ashland’s government
How much does Ashland spend per resident?
About $4,949 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,949 was more than 65% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Ashland?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,444 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.22% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ashlandmass.com.
Who runs Ashland’s government?
See ashlandmass.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ashland yet.
How did Ashland vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 67.7%, Donald J Trump 30.0% (9,736 votes, official results). Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Ashland?
598 full-time and 99 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $4.3M (about $51.9M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Ashland in the state legislature?
State Senate District Middlesex and Norfolk (Karen Spilka) and State House District 7th Middlesex (Jack Lewis). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Ashland’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →