Compare towns
Ashby vs Ryegate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Ryegate | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,059Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden 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. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Hampden 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 | — | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.