Compare towns
Whitingham vs Barre vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Whitingham | Barre | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368 |
5,572Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
| Barre and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Quabbin | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.