Compare towns
Halifax vs Reading vs Berkley vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Reading | Berkley | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
25,612Highest |
6,829 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Berkley 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Ashburnham 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Reading and Berkley 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Reading and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Reading | Berkley | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.