Compare towns
Granby vs Hampden vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Granby has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Granby | Hampden | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,080 |
4,946Lowest |
7,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±4.2 16% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Hampden and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Granby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,297±$33kHighest 15% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Granby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,600±$16kLowest 37% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,572Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Granby and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Hampden 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 | #259 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Granby | Hampden-Wilbraham | Halifax |
| High school in town | Granby Jr Sr High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.