Compare towns
Hanson vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
2,239Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 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. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$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 | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,840 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Kearsarge Regional School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.