Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Topsfield
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 the most renters (11% rent).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Hanson and Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| 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 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
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| 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.