Compare towns
Halifax vs Ware vs Whitingham vs Marlboro
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).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Whitingham | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,368 |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%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% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$77,135±$10kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Marlboro 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Ware 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Ware 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% 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% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.