What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most affordable homes ($513k median).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	North Reading
People
Population	1,927Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±4.3Highest 10% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Hanson and North Reading 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%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and North Reading 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%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,259±$356 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,429Lowest 7% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Reading
High school in town	—	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.1
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.