Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Acton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Pinehurst | Acton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845Lowest |
24,155Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Halifax |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.