Compare towns
Halifax vs Pembroke vs Ripton
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Pembroke | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
18,382Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% 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±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$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 | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Ripton 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax | Pembroke | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.