Compare towns
Halifax vs Putney vs Randolph 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 most expensive homes ($482k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Putney | Randolph | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$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 | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.