Compare towns
Hanson vs Berlin vs Halifax vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Berlin | Halifax | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,378Lowest |
7,748 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Berlin and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Hanover 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Berlin-Boylston | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.