Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Pembroke | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
508Lowest |
18,382Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest 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. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5 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% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Ashburnham 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. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
— | $2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ripton 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% 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% |
90.1%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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Ripton 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Pembroke | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.