Compare towns
Ashby vs Halifax vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Ashby | Halifax | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,748 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Townsend 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%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Halifax 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Halifax 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Halifax and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Halifax and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Halifax | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.