Compare towns
Hampden vs Tyringham 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).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
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 | Tyringham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
494Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Tyringham 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| 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 3% above MA |
$4,632Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%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 |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | #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.