Compare towns
Ashby vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
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 | Springfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,122Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above 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. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampden and Ashby 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Springfield 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 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.