Compare towns
Halifax vs Sutton vs Thompson 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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Sutton | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
9,452 |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 45% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Sutton | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
7.9Lowest |
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.