Compare towns
Halifax vs Berlin vs Hanson vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Berlin | Hanson | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
3,378Lowest |
10,660Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Hanson and Berlin 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 |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Berlin and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Berlin-Boylston | Whitman-Hanson | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| 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.