Compare towns
Halifax vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Needham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham 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% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Needham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
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.