Compare towns
Hanson vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
6,571Lowest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| 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±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hanson 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below 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 | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.