Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Union vs Windsor Locks 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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Union | Windsor Locks | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
944Lowest |
12,579Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$118,556±$11k 47% 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,804±$375 28% above 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Union 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Union School District | Windsor Locks School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.