Compare towns
Halifax vs Newark vs Ware vs Burke
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).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Ware | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
727Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8 6% above U.S. |
| Ware 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% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Burke 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%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Burke 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% 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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Burke 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. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$87,143±$17kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Burke 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. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$340,600±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$938±$191 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,177Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Ware 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Burke 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Ware | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.