Compare towns
Berkley vs Hampden vs Halifax
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%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Hampden | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829 |
4,946Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest 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% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Halifax 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% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| 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 9% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% 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 | — | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,181 3% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Hampden 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% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Hampden-Wilbraham | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.