Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Halifax vs Mapleton vs Rutland
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).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Halifax | Mapleton | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
7,748 |
1,884Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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 17% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland 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 | — | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Halifax | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.