Compare towns
Halifax vs Braintree vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Halifax | Braintree | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,026Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.