Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Ashburnham vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pinehurst has the most expensive homes ($624k median).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Halifax has the most renters (4.5% 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 | Pinehurst | Ashburnham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845 |
6,415Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest 7% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22kHighest 11% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Pinehurst and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316 5% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Halifax |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.