Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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.

MeasurePinehurstDoverHalifax
People
Population
6,845
2,308Lowest
7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2
7% above MA
47.5±4Highest
19% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
Dover 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%
20.9%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Halifax and Dover 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%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
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%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Pinehurst 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
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22k
11% above MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1kHighest
10% above MA
—
$1,804±$375Lowest
about the MA average
Pinehurst and Halifax 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%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
Dover 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%
3.3%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district — — Halifax
High school in town — — None in town
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.