Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Halifax vs Needham
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
7,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Needham 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Needham 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Halifax | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.