Compare towns
Halifax vs Barre vs Newark
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
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 | Barre | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
5,572Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Barre and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Newark and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Newark 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.