Compare towns
Halifax vs Berlin vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Berlin | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,880Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Southampton 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 47% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$452,300±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,470 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.