Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HansonHanson
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Hardwick | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
2,684 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Pembroke 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,585Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Pembroke |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.