Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Gardner vs Halifax vs Berkley
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 most expensive homes ($624k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Gardner | Halifax | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,845 |
21,148Highest |
7,748 |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 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±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22kHighest 11% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% 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 | $6,316 5% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
96.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Halifax | Berkley |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.