Compare towns
Ashby vs Warwick 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%).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Warwick | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
776Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Warwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Hampden 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% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Warwick 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% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 11% above MA |
$93,333±$22kLowest 10% 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 |
$349,400±$34kLowest 38% 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±$484 32% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Warwick 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 |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | — | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Warwick | 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.