Compare towns

Halifax vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham 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 the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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.

MeasureHalifaxOgunquitStonehamPembroke
People
Population
7,748
1,379Lowest
23,355Highest
18,382
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
45.5±3.3
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Stoneham 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Halifax and Pembroke 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kLowest
41% 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±$51kLowest
45% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$586,500±$28k
76% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375Lowest
28% above U.S.
—
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
$2,464±$753Highest
74% above U.S.
Pembroke and Stoneham 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,523
109% 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%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #120 of 282 in MA — #117 of 282 in MA #82 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax — Stoneham Pembroke
High school in town None in town — Stoneham High Pembroke High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7Lowest
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.