Compare towns
Halifax vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
6,976Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Shirley 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Hanson 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% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Shirley 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ayer Shirley School District | 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.