Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Hanover vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Ashburnham | Hanover | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
14,845Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.