Compare towns
Ashby vs Plainfield 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 people working from home (17.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Plainfield | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,100 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%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. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 43% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below 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. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% 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% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Townsend 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.