Compare towns
Halifax vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Oakham | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,639Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Oakham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Quabbin | Berkley |
| 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 |
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.