Compare towns
Hanson vs Auburn vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most renters (11% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Hanson | Auburn | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
6,119Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest 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+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Auburn School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.