Compare towns
Ashby vs Atkinson vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most kids (17% under 18).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k 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.
| Measure | Ashby | Atkinson | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,267Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.