Compare towns
Halifax vs Walpole vs Hanson vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Walpole | Hanson | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
26,388Highest |
10,660 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hanson 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Walpole and Hanson 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Whitman-Hanson | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Walpole High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.