Compare towns
Hanson vs Lancaster vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Chesterfield has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Hanson | Lancaster | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
8,606Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±7.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Chesterfield 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster and Chesterfield 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$103,967±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$390,800±$48kLowest 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,969Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.