Compare towns
Ashby vs Newfields vs Hampstead
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 affordable homes ($391k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
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 | Newfields | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,023Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Hampstead 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampstead and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Hampstead 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.