Compare towns
Hampden vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ashby has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
508Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hampden 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashby 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. |
— | $1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.