Compare towns
Halifax vs Ashby vs Ashburnham
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).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Ashburnham has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Ashby | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
3,211Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest 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+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest 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 | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 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 | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest 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 | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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.