Compare towns
Halifax vs Dalton vs Newark vs Whitingham
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%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dalton | Newark | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
6,256Highest |
727Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Whitingham 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Dalton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$872±$70 38% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Central Berkshire | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.