Compare towns
Halifax vs Putnam vs Webster vs Berkley
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Putnam | Webster | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,292 |
17,748Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Berkley 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 47% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| Berkley 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,018 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Putnam School District | Webster | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.