Compare towns
Halifax vs Berlin vs Hanson vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 |
2,880Lowest |
10,660Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #149 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
U.S. 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.