Compare towns
Halifax vs Brookline 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
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 | Brookline | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
5,736Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Brookline School District | 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.