Compare towns
Ashby vs Hampden vs Plympton
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%).
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 | Hampden | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
4,946Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
46.4±4.2Lowest 16% 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% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Plympton 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 |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,181 3% above MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.