Compare towns
Granby 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
Granby has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Granby | Townsend | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,080 |
9,100Highest |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±4.2 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Hampden and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,297±$33k 15% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Townsend and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,600±$16kLowest 37% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Townsend and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,572Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Hampden 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 | #259 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Granby | North Middlesex | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Granby Jr Sr High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.