Compare towns
Hanson vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Stoneham | Needham | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Needham 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Halifax 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 27% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Stoneham | Needham | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stoneham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.