Compare towns
Halifax vs Ashby 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 the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Ashby | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
3,211Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Newark 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% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ashby 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% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Halifax 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. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Newark and Ashby 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. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.