Compare towns
Hampden vs Calais vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Hampden | Calais | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
1,713Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% 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 | 14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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 29% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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 8% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Calais and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 98% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex |
| 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.