Compare towns
Halifax vs Douglas vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,207Highest |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 14% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
| Douglas 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 14% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
| 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±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
— |
| Halifax and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Halifax and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.