Compare towns

Hanson vs Whitman 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 highest household income ($132k).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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.

MeasureHansonWhitmanHalifax
People
Population
10,660
15,295Highest
7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3Highest
7% above MA
40.4±1.8Lowest
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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
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%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
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%
31.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
Whitman 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
$108,933±$14kLowest
5% above 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
$472,700±$12kLowest
16% 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
$1,771±$151Lowest
about the MA average
$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
$5,824Lowest
about the MA average
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±13.4
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
15% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
Work from home
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.8%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Halifax and Whitman 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 #191 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson Whitman-Hanson Halifax
High school in town Whitman Hanson Regional None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
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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.