Compare towns
Halifax vs Windham vs Ashburnham vs Hanson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
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 | Ashburnham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
16,038Highest |
6,415Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,046Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Windham School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.