Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Middlesex | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,943Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 47% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Pembroke 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.