Compare towns
Halifax vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Pelham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
14,449 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pembroke 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,585Lowest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Halifax 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Pelham School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.