Compare towns
Halifax vs Petersham 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Petersham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,185Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest 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±$11k 14% above MA |
$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| 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 |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% 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 |
$1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Halifax 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 |
| School district | Halifax | Petersham | 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 |
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.