Compare towns
Halifax vs Needham 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Ashburnham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
32,459Highest |
6,415Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Needham and Hanson 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Ashburnham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Needham and Hanson 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer 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 |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Needham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.