Compare towns
Hampden vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Wareham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
23,302Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA |
| Wareham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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±$16k about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% 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±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Wareham and Ashby 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 |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Wareham and Ashby 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Wareham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.