What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).

Hanson has the most kids (25% 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	Devens	Hanson
People
Population	1,723Lowest	1,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA	44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA
	Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9%	0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA	$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA
	Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average	$513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA
	Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$539 15% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,556Lowest 7% below MA	$6,429Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±64.7 MA: 51.8%	—
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	100%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#149 of 282 in MA
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.