Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Hatfield vs Plympton
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Hatfield | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
3,325 |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Hatfield and Plympton 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Plympton 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Hanson and Plympton 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 |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Hanson and Plympton 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 |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Plympton 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Hatfield | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
6.1Lowest |
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| 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.