Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Mendon 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 affordable homes ($391k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Mendon | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
6,325Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Ashburnham 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Mendon 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±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Mendon-Upton | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.