Compare towns
Halifax vs Acton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Halifax | Acton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
24,155Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Acton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Acton-Boxborough | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.