Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Chilmark 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 most affordable homes ($391k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Chilmark | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
1,578Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Chilmark and Halifax 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Up-Island Regional | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.