Compare towns
Halifax vs Dummerston vs Pembroke 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%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Dummerston | Pembroke | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
2,090Lowest |
18,382Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Pembroke 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% 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. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Pembroke | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.