Compare towns
Hanson vs Dudley 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 highest household income ($132k).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Dudley | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,929Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| 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 3% above MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.