What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has the most people working from home (22.7%).

Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Boylston	Hanson
People
Population	4,948Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA
	Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
	Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.