Compare towns
Halifax vs Hampton vs Dighton 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
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Hampton | Dighton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,101Highest |
8,193 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$136,646±$19kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Dighton 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. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Dighton 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. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,405±$192Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #85 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.