Compare towns
Hanson vs Salisbury vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,281 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Salisbury 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 27% above MA |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| 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 3% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| 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 7% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Triton | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.