Compare towns
Hanson vs Douglas vs Halifax vs Middleton
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).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Douglas | Halifax | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,207 |
7,748Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 27% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas | Halifax | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.