Compare towns
Halifax vs Exeter vs Ashburnham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Exeter | Ashburnham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
16,151Highest |
6,415Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hanson 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hanson 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 47% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hanson 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.