Compare towns
Berkley vs Hingham vs Halifax vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Hingham | Halifax | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
24,283Highest |
7,748 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$49k 39% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Hingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Hingham and Halifax 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #155 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Hingham | Halifax | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.