Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Dunstable 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).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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.

MeasurePinehurstDunstableHalifax
People
Population
6,845
3,408Lowest
7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2Highest
7% above MA
41.5±2.4Lowest
4% above MA
41.9±4.7
5% above MA
Pinehurst and Halifax 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%
22.4%±4.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
Dunstable 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%
15%±2.6Lowest
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%
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
7.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dunstable 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
$208,512±$23kHighest
101% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22k
11% above MA
$674,000±$30kHighest
20% above MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Dunstable and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1kHighest
10% above MA
$1,325±$637Lowest
25% below MA
$1,804±$375
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
$9,020Highest
51% above MA
$6,840
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±58.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±77.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
Dunstable and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Highest
MA: 10%
0.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
2.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
96.5%
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
34 min
18% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Dunstable and Halifax 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 — #4 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district — Groton-Dunstable Halifax
High school in town — None 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.