Compare towns
Hanson vs Topsfield 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 most renters (11% rent).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Topsfield | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
6,564Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Hanson and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 27% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 | $6,402Lowest 7% 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%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 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% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Topsfield | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.