Compare towns
Halifax vs Warner vs Ashburnham vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Warner | Ashburnham | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
2,959Lowest |
6,415 |
8,193Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Warner and Dighton 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% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 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% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Warner 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. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$136,646±$19kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Dighton 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. |
$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$501,900±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Dighton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,405±$192 about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Warner 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner 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 | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.