Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Ashby vs Windham vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
3,211Lowest |
16,038Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Windham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ashby 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.