Compare towns
Halifax vs Hingham vs Hanson
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).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Hanson has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Hingham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
24,283Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Hingham and Hanson 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hingham 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% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hingham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.