Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Hardwick
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hanson | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hardwick 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Hardwick 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.