Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Halifax vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Halifax | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,314Lowest |
7,748 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanson 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Halifax | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.