Compare towns
Hanson vs Preston 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 highest household income ($132k).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Preston | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
4,821Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Preston 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. |
$116,648±$27kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$361,900±$13kLowest 9% 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±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Preston School District | 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 |
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.