Compare towns
Hampden vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Sutton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
9,452Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Ashby 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 3% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ashby 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
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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.