Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Hanover 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
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Reading | Hanover | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
699Lowest |
14,845Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Hanover 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| 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.