Compare towns
Hubbardston vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Orange | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,371Lowest |
7,573Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hampden and Hubbardston 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,600±$18kHighest 34% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$206 46% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,132±$107Highest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 21% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hubbardston 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 | #128 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.