Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Ashburnham vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Castleton | Ashburnham | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
4,453Lowest |
6,415 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Rutland 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #178 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.