Compare towns
Halifax vs Ashby vs Ashburnham vs Hanson
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Ashburnham has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
3,211Lowest |
6,415 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest 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 |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Hanson 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% |
42.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson 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±$51k 14% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Ashburnham 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| 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% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest 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 |
1972 8 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 |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.