Compare towns
Ashby vs Mendon vs Townsend vs Hampden
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hampden has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Mendon | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,113Lowest |
9,100Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 43% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.