Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Chaplin vs Halifax vs Westminster
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 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 | Ashburnham | Chaplin | Halifax | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
2,070Lowest |
7,748 |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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 47% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Halifax | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.