Compare towns
Ashby vs Needham vs Townsend 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%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | Needham | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,100 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #19 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 |
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.