Compare towns

Hanson vs Northbridge 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 kids (25% under 18).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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.

MeasureHansonNorthbridgeHanson
People
Population
1,927Lowest
16,458Highest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4%
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±4.3Highest
10% above MA
43.8±2.6
9% above MA
42.8±3Lowest
7% above MA
Hanson and Northbridge 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%
21.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7
MA: 19.4%
Hanson 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%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.9%
MA: 47.3%
42.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hanson and Northbridge 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
$111,319±$19kLowest
7% above 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
$448,600±$15kLowest
20% 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 —
$1,207±$102Lowest
31% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
Hanson and Northbridge 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
$4,821Lowest
20% below MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
51.2%±9.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
26% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
16.2%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Northbridge 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 #226 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district — Northbridge Whitman-Hanson
High school in town — Northbridge High Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8Lowest
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.