Compare towns
Ashby vs Townsend vs Windham 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Townsend | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
9,100 |
19,188Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windham 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Hampden 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16kLowest 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Windham 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | RSU 14 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.