Compare towns
Halifax vs Pembroke vs Thompson
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 most people working from home (21.2%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
18,382Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Pembroke 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% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Halifax 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Halifax | Pembroke | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.