Compare towns
Halifax vs Windham vs Dighton 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
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Windham | Dighton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
19,188Highest |
8,193 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dighton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$136,646±$19kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% 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. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$501,900±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% 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. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,405±$192 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #85 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | RSU 14 | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bristol County Agricultural High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.