Compare towns
Ashby vs Ware vs Townsend 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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Ware | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
6,369 |
9,100Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 11% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| 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 31% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashby 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.