Compare towns
Halifax vs Pepperell vs Ashburnham vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Ashburnham | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
11,663Highest |
6,415Lowest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±2.9Highest 7% above MA |
| Dighton and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 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%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 14% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Dighton and Pepperell 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 |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
| Dighton and Pepperell 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 |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| 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 14% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,452 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.