Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanover vs Southampton
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 the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
14,845Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Southampton 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% |
19.1%±4Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Southampton 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 |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% 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 |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| 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.