Compare towns
Hanson vs Epping vs Halifax vs Hanover
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Epping | Halifax | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,430Lowest |
7,748 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 64% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Epping School District | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Epping High School | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 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.