Compare towns
Hampden vs Ripton vs Hubbardston
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 oldest population (median age 50.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hubbardston has the most kids (17.8% 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 | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
508Lowest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.8±9.1Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Ripton 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% |
17.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hubbardston 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% |
20.5%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest 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% |
4.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$123,500±$24kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston 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. |
$371,600±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $953±$206Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Hubbardston 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±67.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hubbardston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hubbardston 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 | — | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.