Compare towns

Halifax vs Hanson vs Rye

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).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxHansonRye
People
Population
7,748
10,660Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
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±$11kLowest
47% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375
28% above U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Lowest
26% above 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
$6,840
119% above U.S.
$6,402Lowest
105% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% 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%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
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%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #120 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA #2 of 120 in NH
School district Halifax Whitman-Hanson Rye School District
High school in town None in town Whitman Hanson Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.