Compare towns
Halifax vs Brattleboro vs Pembroke
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Brattleboro | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
12,122 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.