Compare towns
Hanson vs Sutton vs Exeter 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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Sutton | Exeter | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,452 |
16,151Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hanson 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Exeter 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Exeter 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.