Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Middlesex vs Halifax vs Ashby
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Middlesex | Halifax | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
1,943Lowest |
7,748Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlesex 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Middlesex 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% |
43.7% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$115,598±$9k 43% 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. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% 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% |
36.4%±53.5 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% |
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% |
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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs 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. |
33 min 25% 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% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Halifax | North Middlesex |
| 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.