Compare towns
Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield 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 renters (11% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Topsfield | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.