Compare towns
Halifax vs Everett vs Berkley vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Everett | Berkley | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
50,045Highest |
6,829Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.4±2.5 4% 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Rutland 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 14% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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±$51k 14% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
— | $1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Everett | Berkley | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.