Compare towns
Ashby vs Everett vs Hampden vs Townsend
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 people working from home (17.8%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Everett | Hampden | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
50,045Highest |
4,946 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Townsend 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 31% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Townsend 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Everett | Hampden-Wilbraham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.