Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanover vs Hanson vs Whitman
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
14,845 |
10,660 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,771±$151Lowest about the MA average |
| Hanover and Hanson 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.