Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Hanson | Windham | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660 |
16,038Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Halifax 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$144,205±$49k 79% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$511,200±$45k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,018Lowest 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% 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. |
1996Highest 16 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. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Windham School District | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.