Compare towns
Hampden vs Upton vs Wilbraham 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 most affordable homes ($358k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wilbraham has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Upton | Wilbraham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,946 |
8,189 |
14,572Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Wilbraham 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Upton and Wilbraham 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby and Wilbraham 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% 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 |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.