Compare towns
Ashby vs Maynard vs Maynard 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%).
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 | Maynard | Maynard | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
10,712Highest |
10,712Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Maynard 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Maynard | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.