Compare towns
Hanson vs Lee vs Halifax vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Lee | Halifax | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
5,719Lowest |
7,748 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Lee | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.