Compare towns
Ashby vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Springfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
154,749Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| 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 31% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Springfield | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.