Compare towns
Hanson vs Derby vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($132k).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% 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 | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.