Compare towns
Hanson vs Canton vs Hanover vs Halifax
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 population (median age 42.8).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Canton | Hanover | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
24,748Highest |
14,845 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Hanson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest 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 |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Hanover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Canton 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 |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Canton High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.1 |
10.3Lowest |
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| 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.