Compare towns
Ashby vs Cornish vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hampden has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Cornish | Putney | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,816Lowest |
2,622 |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Putney 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Ashby 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Cornish 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Putney 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 70 in VT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Cornish School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.