Compare towns
Hampton vs Shirley vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Shirley has the most renters (36.8% rent).
Hartland has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Hampton | Shirley | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647 |
1,146Lowest |
1,840Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±4.9 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hartland 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% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Shirley 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% |
15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hartland 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% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$113,375±$13kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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. |
$395,800±$50kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$350,700±$21k 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,819±$478Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Hampton 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. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
$5,633Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±54.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartland and Shirley 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | — | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.