Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Hanson | Ogunquit | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.