Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Sterling 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Sterling | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
8,183Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sterling 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.