Compare towns
Halifax vs Everett vs Southampton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Everett | Southampton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
50,045Highest |
6,230Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Southampton 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest 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%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Southampton 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 14% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
— | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Everett | Southampton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.