Compare towns
Halifax vs Pinehurst vs Ashburnham vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Pinehurst | Ashburnham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
6,845 |
6,415Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Pinehurst 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% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Pembroke 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Pinehurst 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 |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke and Pinehurst 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 |
$623,800±$22kHighest 11% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Pinehurst 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 |
$6,316 5% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 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% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.