Compare towns
Halifax vs Tyringham vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Tyringham has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Tyringham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
494Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 14% above MA |
$4,632Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Tyringham 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.