Compare towns
Ashby vs Douglas vs Fall River 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Douglas | Fall River | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
9,207 |
94,082Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Fall River 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Douglas and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Fall River 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Douglas | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.