Compare towns

Halifax vs Pembroke vs Wareham

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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxPembrokeWareham
People
Population
7,748Lowest
18,382
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
45.5±3.3
14% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Wareham 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%
MA: 47.3%
44.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Wareham 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±$11k
14% above MA
$146,285±$17kHighest
41% above MA
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
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
14% below MA
$586,500±$28kHighest
4% above MA
$424,500±$21kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375
about the MA average
$2,464±$753Highest
40% above MA
$1,504±$180Lowest
15% below MA
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
14% above MA
$6,585
10% above MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
42.1%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Wareham 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
MA: 10%
4%
MA: 10%
6.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
22% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
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 #272 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax Pembroke Wareham
High school in town None in town Pembroke High School Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
8.6Lowest
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.