Compare towns
Halifax vs Lancaster 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 the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Nashoba | 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.