Compare towns
Halifax vs Ayer vs Berkley vs Hanson
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Halifax | Ayer | Berkley | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
8,645 |
6,829Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Berkley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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 | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Berkley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
— | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ayer Shirley School District | Berkley | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.