Compare towns
Hampden vs Exeter 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 most affordable homes ($358k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Exeter | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
16,151Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.