Compare towns
Halifax vs Bernardston 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Halifax | Bernardston | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
2,164Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Bernardston and Pembroke 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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 |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke 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±$51k 14% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Pioneer Valley | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.