What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Halifax	Ashby
People
Population	7,748Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17%±3.5Lowest 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+	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.5%±4.3Highest 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+	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.2Lowest 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	$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% 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	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA
	Halifax and Ashby 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	$6,034Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8%	36.4%±53.5Lowest 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	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 22% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.8%±5.8Highest 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	#120 of 282 in MA	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	North Middlesex
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.