Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Williamsburg
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
10,660Highest |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% 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 | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Williamsburg |
| 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 |
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.