Compare towns
Halifax vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Hardwick | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Whitingham 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. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Halifax 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Hardwick 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.