Compare towns

Halifax vs Calais vs Berkley

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 youngest population (median age 41.9).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxCalaisBerkley
People
Population
7,748Highest
1,713Lowest
6,829
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
43.4±4.1Highest
12% above U.S.
Berkley and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais 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
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais 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
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Halifax 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.
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
$144,205±$49kHighest
79% above U.S.
Berkley 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.
$390,300±$36kLowest
17% above U.S.
$511,200±$45kHighest
54% above U.S.
Berkley and Halifax 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.
$1,408±$392Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
Halifax and Calais 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.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$6,018Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais 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 — #155 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Berkley
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.