Compare towns
Ashby vs Pepperell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Pepperell | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
11,663Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell 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 31% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Pepperell and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Hampden 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| 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 |
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.