Compare towns
Halifax vs Mason 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).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Ashburnham has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Mason | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,451Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Mason and Ashburnham 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Mason 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Mason School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.