Compare towns
Halifax vs Newfields vs Berkley 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Newfields | Berkley | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,829 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Berkley 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Ashburnham 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 47% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$144,205±$49k 79% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$511,200±$45k 54% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
— | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,018Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Newfields School District | Berkley | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.