Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Newfields 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 most affordable homes ($391k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
2,023Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest 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. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest 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% |
5%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above 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. |
$1,804±$375Lowest 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 | $6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%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. |
1979Lowest 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Newfields School District | 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.