Compare towns
Halifax vs Bridgewater Town 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 oldest population (median age 41.9).
Bridgewater Town has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Bridgewater Town | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
28,471Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
37.6±1.6Lowest 6% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Halifax and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±2Lowest 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%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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% |
39.5% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
16.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$112,651±$7kLowest 8% 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±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,100±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Bridgewater Town and Halifax 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 |
$2,092±$177Highest 19% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Bridgewater Town 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 |
$6,499 8% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±13.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Bridgewater Town 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #121 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Bridgewater-Raynham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 18.1 |
— |
| 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.