Compare towns
Halifax vs Ogunquit vs Ashburnham vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Plympton has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Ogunquit | Ashburnham | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,415 |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Ashburnham 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 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 |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.