Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Halifax vs Hatfield
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%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Halifax | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
7,748Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Hatfield 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 |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below 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±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Halifax and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Halifax | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.