Compare towns
Halifax vs Marblehead vs Ashburnham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Marblehead | Ashburnham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
20,413Highest |
6,415Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 14% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.