Compare towns
Halifax vs Rutland 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Rutland | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
9,353 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland 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 |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Rutland and Hanson 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 |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% 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 |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Wachusett | 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 Our Story | 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.