Compare towns
Halifax vs Ashburnham vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Halifax | Ashburnham | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
6,415Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett |
| 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.