Compare towns
Barre vs Halifax vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Barre | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
7,748 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Barre and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.