Compare towns
Ashby vs Topsfield 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 the most homeowners (95.5%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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 | Topsfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
6,564Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Topsfield 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Ashby and Hampden 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Topsfield 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Topsfield | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.