Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Hanson vs Pembroke
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Castleton | Hanson | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
4,453Lowest |
10,660 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hanson 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #149 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Whitman-Hanson | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.