Compare towns
Somerset vs Halifax vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Somerset | Halifax | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
7,748Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Somerset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Somerset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Halifax and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Halifax and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93 28% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977 17% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Somerset 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 | #132 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Halifax | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.