Compare towns
Ashby vs Avon vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Avon | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
4,774 |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Hampden and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Ashby 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon 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 11% above MA |
$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Avon 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 31% below MA |
$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Avon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Avon 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Avon | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.