Compare towns
Halifax vs Dunbarton vs Ashburnham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
3,097Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Halifax 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. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above 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 | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Dunbarton School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.