Compare towns
Hampden vs Bourne vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Hubbardston has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
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 | Hampden | Bourne | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
20,323Highest |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
46.8±9.1Lowest 17% above MA |
| Bourne and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hubbardston and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$371,600±$18k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Bourne and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,716 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Hubbardston 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.