Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HansonPembroke
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hanson | Ayer | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
8,645 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% 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 | — | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.