Compare towns
Ashby vs Marion vs Sutton vs Hampden
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%).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% 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 | Marion | Sutton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,310 |
9,452Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Marion and Hampden 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% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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 11% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Marion 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 |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Ashby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Sutton 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Marion | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.