Compare towns

Halifax vs Hanson vs Randolph

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.

MeasureHalifaxHansonRandolph
People
Population
7,748
10,660Highest
4,843Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7
8% above U.S.
42.8±3Highest
10% above U.S.
40.4±7.4Lowest
4% above U.S.
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%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
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%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,556±$11k
47% above U.S.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% 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.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below 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.
$1,172±$173Lowest
17% 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.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Randolph 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%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Randolph 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 #55 of 70 in VT
School district Halifax Whitman-Hanson Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town Whitman Hanson Regional Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7Highest
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.