Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Middlesex vs Halifax
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
1,943Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex 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 47% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above 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 | $6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.