Compare towns
Halifax vs Newark vs Townsend
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%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Newark | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847 |
727Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.4±6Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend 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% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend 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. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Townsend 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.