Compare towns

Plympton vs Hanson vs Halifax

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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.

MeasurePlymptonHansonHalifax
People
Population
2,935Lowest
10,660Highest
7,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.2Highest
16% above MA
42.8±3
7% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
MA: 47.3%
42.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
$126,736±$20k
22% above MA
$132,200±$10kHighest
27% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$517,800±$52k
8% below MA
$533,900±$36kHighest
5% below MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above 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
$6,628
11% above MA
$6,402Lowest
7% above MA
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±40.6
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%
MA: 62.5%
89%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
13% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Plympton 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 #110 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district Plympton Whitman-Hanson Halifax
High school in town None in town Whitman Hanson Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.