Compare towns
Carver vs Halifax vs Southwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Southwick has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Carver | Halifax | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712Highest |
7,748Lowest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA |
| Southwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA |
| Southwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA |
| Halifax and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA |
| Carver and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455 8% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$5,331Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Carver and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Southwick and Carver 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Halifax | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | None in town | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
| 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.