Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Westhampton 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%).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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.

MeasureAshburnhamWesthamptonHalifax
People
Population
6,415
1,552Lowest
7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
41.9±4.7
5% above MA
Westhampton 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%
18%±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%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.6
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
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±$11kHighest
14% above MA
$100,000±$7kLowest
4% below MA
$118,556±$11k
14% above MA
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±$34kLowest
30% below MA
$413,200±$24k
26% below MA
$481,500±$51kHighest
14% below MA
Halifax and Westhampton 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
$1,304±$229Lowest
26% 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
$6,476
8% above MA
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
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%
6.5%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
16%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ashburnham and Westhampton 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 Hampshire · Westhampton Halifax
High school in town None in town Hampshire Regional High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
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.