Compare towns

Hanson vs Woonsocket 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 the highest household income ($132k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureHansonWoonsocketHalifax
People
Population
10,660
43,521Highest
7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3Highest
10% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.9±4.7
8% above U.S.
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%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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
64% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$481,500±$51k
45% above U.S.
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
29% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,840Highest
119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.6%±37.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Woonsocket 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Hanson 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 #37 of 38 in RI #120 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Halifax
High school in town Whitman Hanson Regional Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Lowest
15.2Highest
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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.