Compare towns
Berkley vs Halifax vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Berkley | Halifax | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
7,748 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 39% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Berkley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Halifax and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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 MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Halifax | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.