Compare towns
Hanson vs West Springfield Town 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | West Springfield Town | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
28,772Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.1±2.6Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| West Springfield Town 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±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| 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 3% above MA |
$1,144±$68Lowest 35% 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
11.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and West Springfield Town 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 | #218 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | West Springfield | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | West Springfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.