Compare towns
Halifax vs Ware vs Albany
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%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Albany has the most kids (31% under 18).
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 | Ware | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
10,048Highest |
934 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±6.2 9% above U.S. |
| Ware and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Albany and Halifax 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ware and Halifax 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. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$231,500±$12kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Albany and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,093Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Albany 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 | Ware | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school 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 |
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.