Compare towns
Halifax vs Middleton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,816Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Middleton 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Middleton 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 14% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Middleton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.