Compare towns
Halifax vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
12,579Highest |
8,517 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15k 19% 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.