Compare towns

Hanson vs Lawrence vs Hanson

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 people working from home (11.2%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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.

MeasureHansonLawrenceHanson
People
Population
1,927Lowest
88,736Highest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±4.3Highest
10% above MA
32.6±0.9Lowest
19% below MA
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%±5.3
MA: 19.4%
26.3%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lawrence 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%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.1%
MA: 47.3%
16.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Lawrence 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±$24k
15% above MA
$60,433±$3kLowest
42% below MA
$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
$415,200±$23kLowest
26% 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 —
$1,662±$50Lowest
6% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
Hanson and Lawrence 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
$3,422Lowest
43% below MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
60.6%±3.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
17.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
MA: 62.5%
28.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
26% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±5.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Hanson 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 #278 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district — Lawrence Whitman-Hanson
High school in town — Lawrence High School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.6Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.