Compare towns
Halifax vs Mapleton vs Southampton 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 most expensive homes ($482k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Southampton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,230 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| 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±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$452,300±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Southampton 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,470 75% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #205 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southampton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.