Compare towns
Hampden vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($358k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Needham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
32,459Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Ashby 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 3% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #199 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | — | North Middlesex |
| High school 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.