Compare towns
Halifax vs Northfield vs Berkley
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Northfield | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
5,920Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
43.4±4.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Halifax 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,018 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.