Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dudley vs Webster 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 people working from home (16%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Dudley | Webster | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
11,929 |
17,748Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.