What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Halifax
People
Population	3,211Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA	$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA
	Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average
	Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,034Lowest about the MA average	$6,840Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6% MA: 10%	2.6% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5% MA: 62.5%	95.5% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.