Compare towns
Halifax vs Newfields vs Pembroke 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
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Pembroke has the most renters (9.9% rent).
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 | Pembroke | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
2,023Lowest |
18,382Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Newfields 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% |
19.3%±2.5 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pembroke 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% 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%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$146,285±$17k 81% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Newfields 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. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 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% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older 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 |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Newfields School District | Pembroke | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 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.