Compare towns
Halifax vs Ashburnham vs Tunbridge vs Newark
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Tunbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
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 | Ashburnham | Tunbridge | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
6,415Highest |
1,253 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97 21% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,645 49% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.