Compare towns
Halifax vs Pembroke vs Sutton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Pembroke | Sutton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
18,382Highest |
9,452 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Sutton and Pembroke 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 |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Pembroke and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Pembroke | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.