Compare towns
Halifax vs Hatfield 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Hatfield | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
3,325Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Halifax 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 |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
— |
| Halifax and Hatfield 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hatfield | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.