Compare towns
Halifax vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield vs Hanson
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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Topsfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.