Compare towns
Halifax vs Danvers vs Ashburnham vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Danvers | Ashburnham | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
28,098Highest |
6,415Lowest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Dighton 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Dighton and Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Danvers 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,452 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Danvers 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% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ashburnham-Westminster | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.