Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Mapleton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Mapleton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660 |
1,884Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. 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%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Mapleton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.