Compare towns
Hanson vs Fairhaven 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Fairhaven | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
15,903Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Fairhaven 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% 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 |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% 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 |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Fairhaven | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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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.