Compare towns
Hanson vs Upton vs Millis 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Upton | Millis | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,189 |
8,888 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Millis 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Millis and Upton 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,696±$279 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 | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Millis 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millis | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Blackstone Valley | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
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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.