Compare towns
Halifax vs Hampton 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Hampton | Hanson | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
16,426 |
10,660 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 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. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above 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±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hampton 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. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 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% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hampton 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% |
5.6%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% |
73.8%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. |
1978 2 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Whitman-Hanson | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.