Compare towns
Ashby vs Hanson vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Ashby | Hanson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,927Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44±4.3 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Ashby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
— | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.