Compare towns
Halifax vs Dunstable vs Berkley
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Dunstable | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
3,408Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Halifax 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Dunstable and Berkley 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 |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
— |
| Halifax and Dunstable 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Groton-Dunstable | 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 |
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.