Compare towns
Halifax vs Pelham 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 population (median age 41.9).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
14,449Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above 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 | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Pelham School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.