Compare towns
Ashby vs Bow 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bow and Ashby 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.