Compare towns
Halifax vs Dover 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 most renters (4.5% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,308Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Halifax 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% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Ashburnham 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.