Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Reading vs Pembroke
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%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
25,612Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Reading 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%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±3.1 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% |
44.7% 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% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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 |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Reading and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Reading 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 |
$6,585 10% 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% |
42.1%±5.6 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% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% 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% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Pembroke 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Reading | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Reading Memorial High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.