Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Rochester | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
5,837Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Rochester 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Rochester 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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 |
$120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Rochester 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 |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| 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 about the MA average |
$6,530 9% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.