Compare towns

Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Ashburnham vs Halifax

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.

MeasureHansonOgunquitAshburnhamHalifax
People
Population
10,660Highest
1,379Lowest
6,415
7,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.7±6.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.9±4.7
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.9
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+
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.8
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
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$118,809±$11k
47% above U.S.
$118,556±$11k
47% above U.S.
Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$390,700±$34kLowest
17% above U.S.
$481,500±$51k
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
—
$1,807±$1k
28% above U.S.
$1,804±$375Lowest
28% above U.S.
Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,402
105% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,046
94% above U.S.
$6,840Highest
119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.6%±37.4
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
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
21% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #149 of 282 in MA — #178 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson — Ashburnham-Westminster Halifax
High school in town Whitman Hanson Regional — None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
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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.