Compare towns
Hanson vs Exeter vs Hanover 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 population (median age 42.8).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Exeter | Hanover | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,195Lowest |
14,845Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% 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 | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hanson 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #69 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.