Compare towns
Halifax vs Mapleton vs Washburn vs Pembroke
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Washburn | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Pembroke 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Halifax 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. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke 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 | — | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.