Compare towns
Halifax vs Ware vs Hanson vs Pembroke
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Ware | Hanson | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
10,048 |
10,660 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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 14% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ware | Whitman-Hanson | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.