Compare towns
Halifax 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 youngest population (median age 41.9).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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.
| Measure | Halifax | Webster | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,227Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
| Webster and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Halifax 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Halifax and Webster 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. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,018Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr 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%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Merrimack Valley School District | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.