Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Dedham | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Halifax 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.