Compare towns
Hampden vs Halifax 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hubbardston has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Halifax | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
7,748Highest |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
| Hampden and Hubbardston 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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 about the MA average |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Halifax 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 |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$371,600±$18k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 3% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hubbardston and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Halifax | Quabbin |
| 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 |
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.