Compare towns
Hampden vs Ware vs Lanesborough
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 highest household income ($105k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Lanesborough has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ware | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
6,369Highest |
3,028Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
51.2±4.4Highest 28% above MA |
| Lanesborough and Hampden 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Lanesborough 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Lanesborough 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$86,219±$19k 17% below MA |
| Hampden and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$299,400±$36k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,349±$199Highest 23% below MA |
| Lanesborough 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,007 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±41.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | — | Mount Greylock |
| 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.