Compare towns
Hanson vs Merrimack 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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Merrimack | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
28,164Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack 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 64% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| 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±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Merrimack School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.