Compare towns
Halifax vs Devens 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).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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 | Devens | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,723Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke 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% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Devens and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Devens 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 |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% 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 |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens 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 MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Pembroke 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 | — | Pembroke |
| High school 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.