Compare towns
Halifax vs Smithfield 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
22,233Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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 | $6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Smithfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.