Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Newfields vs Gardner 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 the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Newfields | Gardner | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
2,023Lowest |
21,148Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Gardner 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 47% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Ashburnham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Newfields School District | Gardner | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.