Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dalton vs Southampton
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 people working from home (16%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Dalton | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
6,256 |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Southampton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
| Southampton and Ashburnham 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$452,300±$25kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Ashburnham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Central Berkshire | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.