What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).

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

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	Hanson	Devens
People
Population	1,927Highest	1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA	48.6±4.3Highest 22% 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	25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14%±5Lowest 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+	35.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±4.2Highest 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	$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% 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	$513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA	$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average
	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	$6,429Highest 7% above MA	$5,556Lowest 7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	85.4%±64.7 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	25.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.