Compare towns
Hanson vs Fall River vs Pepperell 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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Fall River | Pepperell | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
94,082Highest |
11,663 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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 |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% 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 |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Halifax 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | B M C Durfee High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.