Compare towns
Hampden vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Springfield | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
154,749Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby and Springfield 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than 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%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Hampden 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Springfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
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| 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.