Compare towns

Halifax vs Warwick 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 most expensive homes ($482k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxWarwickAshburnham
People
Population
7,748Highest
776Lowest
6,415
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
0%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7
5% above MA
51.4±7.3Highest
29% above MA
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
Warwick 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%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
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%
23.2%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Warwick 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%
40.5%
MA: 47.3%
44%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
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±$11k
14% above MA
$93,333±$22kLowest
10% below MA
$118,809±$11kHighest
14% above MA
Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$481,500±$51kHighest
14% below MA
$349,400±$34kLowest
38% below MA
$390,700±$34k
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375
about the MA average
$1,367±$163Lowest
22% 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
$4,380Lowest
27% below MA
$6,046
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±57.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ashburnham and Halifax 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%
5%
MA: 10%
6.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
89%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
22% above MA
40 minHighest
37% above MA
32 minLowest
10% above MA
Work from home
13.9%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.4%±6.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
16%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
Warwick 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 Warwick Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town None 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.