Compare towns
Halifax vs Randolph vs Hanson vs Plympton
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Randolph | Hanson | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
4,843 |
10,660Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Plympton 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Plympton 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% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20k 57% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Plympton 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. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Plympton 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below 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 | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Randolph 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #149 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Whitman-Hanson | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.