Compare towns
Hubbardston vs Halifax vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hubbardston has the highest household income ($124k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 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 | Hubbardston | Halifax | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,371Lowest |
7,748Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Hubbardston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,600±$18k 34% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hubbardston and Halifax 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 | #128 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Halifax | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None 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.