What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

Ashby has the most expensive homes ($391k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampton	Ashby
People
Population	1,647Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Hampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Hampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Hampton 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.