Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Athol 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Athol | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
12,011Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
| Halifax and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% 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 |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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 |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Athol-Royalston | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.