Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Windham vs Pembroke
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Windham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
19,188Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%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% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 14 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School | 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 |
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.