Compare towns
Halifax vs Lancaster vs Southampton
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
8,606Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Southampton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Southampton 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 14% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Lancaster and Southampton 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Nashoba | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.