Compare towns
Ashby vs Windsor vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Windsor | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
3,554 |
9,100Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Hampden 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest 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. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 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. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 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. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| 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 93% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Townsend 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #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 | 12 photos → | 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.