Compare towns
Halifax vs Canton 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
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Canton | Ashburnham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
24,748Highest |
6,415Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Canton 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Ashburnham 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Canton and Hanson 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 |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Canton and Hanson 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 |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.