Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Reading
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.