Compare towns
Hampden vs Ludlow vs Ashby
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 oldest population (median age 50.9).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
20,904Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Ludlow 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% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Ludlow 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% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow 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 |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
| 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±$16k 36% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ashby 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 |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ludlow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ludlow | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.