Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Williston vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Hanson | Williston | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
10,144 |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$511,200±$45k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,018 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.