Compare towns

Halifax vs Scituate 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxScituateBerkley
People
Population
7,748
10,517Highest
6,829Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% above U.S.
49.9±4Highest
28% above U.S.
43.4±4.1
12% above U.S.
Scituate 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%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
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%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate 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%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Halifax and Berkley 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.
$112,315±$23kLowest
39% above 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.
$449,300±$26kLowest
35% 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.
$1,489±$251Lowest
5% above U.S.
—
Halifax and Scituate 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.
$5,265Lowest
69% above U.S.
$6,018
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Scituate 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%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Scituate 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 #17 of 38 in RI #155 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax Scituate Berkley
High school in town None in town Scituate High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8
—
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.