Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanson vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Hanson | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,927Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.