Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanover 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 most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Hanover | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
14,845Highest |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| 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%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hanover 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
— |
| Hanover and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,429Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hanover 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 MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.