What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k median).

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	Hancock	New Braintree
People
Population	752Lowest	973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA	47.8±4.6Highest 20% above MA
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%	25.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hancock and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hancock and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA	$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA	$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$415Lowest 28% below MA	$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA	$5,508Highest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±51.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1987Lowest 23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hancock and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hancock	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.