Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Epping 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 highest household income ($116k).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Becket | Epping | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,962Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden 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. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Epping and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Becket and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,936Highest 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% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Epping School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.