Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Ashby vs Everett vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Ashburnham | Ashby | Everett | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
3,211Lowest |
50,045Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| Everett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Middlesex | Everett | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.