Compare towns
Halifax vs Everett vs Plympton 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Everett | Plympton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
50,045Highest |
2,935Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Plympton and Berkley 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 14% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Plympton 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% 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 |
$6,628 11% above MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Plympton 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% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Everett | Plympton | Berkley |
| 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.