Compare towns
Ashby vs East Hampton 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 people working from home (17.8%).
East Hampton has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | East Hampton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
12,925Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
43.6±3.7Lowest 12% 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% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| East Hampton 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% |
20.8%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| East Hampton 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. |
$124,577±$11kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| East Hampton 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±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above 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. |
$1,393±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| East Hampton 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. |
$6,681Highest 114% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Hampton 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% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and East Hampton 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | East Hampton School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | East Hampton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.