Compare towns
Halifax vs North Reading vs Reading vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | North Reading | Reading | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| North Reading and Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and North Reading 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | North Reading | Reading | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.