Compare towns
Ashby vs Williston 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 highest household income ($116k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Ashby 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.