Compare towns
Berkley vs Calais vs Dummerston 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
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Berkley | Calais | Dummerston | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 93% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | — | — | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax |
| 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.