Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlesex vs Southampton
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 the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,943Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Southampton 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% |
19.1%±4Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southampton and Middlesex 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% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Southampton 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±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$452,300±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,470Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Southampton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.