Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Wakefield vs Halifax vs Burlington
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 homeowners (97.4%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Wakefield | Halifax | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,845Lowest |
27,793Highest |
7,748 |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Pinehurst 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 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 |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington 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 |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316 5% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Burlington 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Halifax | Burlington |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.