Compare towns
Ashby vs Epping vs Hampden vs Plympton
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%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k 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 | Epping | Hampden | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
7,430Highest |
4,946 |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Plympton 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Plympton 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Plympton 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.