Compare towns
Halifax vs Lawrence 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 people working from home (13.9%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
88,736Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% 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 |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
— |
| Halifax and Lawrence 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Lawrence | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.