Compare towns
Halifax vs Springfield 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
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Springfield | Ashburnham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
154,749Highest |
6,415Lowest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%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% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Ashburnham 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 14% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| 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 14% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older 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 |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Springfield | Ashburnham-Westminster | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.