Compare towns
Ashby vs Hooksett vs Hampden vs Ashburnham
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%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Hampden | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,876 |
4,946 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% 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% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Ashburnham 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. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hooksett 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 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 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #199 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.