Compare towns
Halifax vs Wellesley vs Southampton
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Wellesley | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
30,347Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Wellesley 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%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.