Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Ashby vs Halifax vs Bedford
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 homeowners (97.4%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Ashby | Halifax | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,845 |
3,211Lowest |
7,748 |
14,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Pinehurst 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% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford 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±$27k 41% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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 |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Halifax | Bedford |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.