Compare towns
Halifax vs Webster vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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.
| Measure | Halifax | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,227Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Webster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.