Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Bridgewater Town 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
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bridgewater Town has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Bridgewater Town | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
508Lowest |
28,471Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.6±1.6Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Halifax 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±2 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$112,651±$7kLowest 40% above 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±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$533,100±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater Town and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
— | $2,092±$177Highest 48% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater Town and Ashburnham 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,499 108% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Bridgewater Town 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #121 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bridgewater-Raynham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 18.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.