Compare towns
Halifax vs Dudley 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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Dudley | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
11,929Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below 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±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$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 | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dudley 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest 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 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
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| 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.