Compare towns
Halifax vs Southampton vs Berkley
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Southampton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
6,230Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Southampton 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 |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| 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±$375 about the MA average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #205 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Southampton | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.