Compare towns
Halifax vs Douglas vs Middleton
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).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
9,207 |
9,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Middleton 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Middleton 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Douglas 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 |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Halifax and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Douglas 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.