Compare towns
Hanson vs Marshfield vs Douglas 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Marshfield | Douglas | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
25,879Highest |
9,207 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Marshfield and Douglas 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% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 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% |
20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 27% above MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Douglas 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 5% below MA |
$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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 |
$6,656 11% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Douglas 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Marshfield | Douglas | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Marshfield High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.0 |
7.2Lowest |
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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.