Compare towns
Hanson vs Epping vs Pembroke 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Epping | Pembroke | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,430Lowest |
18,382Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Epping 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% |
19.3%±2.5 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 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. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Pembroke 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% 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% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Epping School District | Pembroke | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Epping High School | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
12.3 |
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| 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.