Compare towns
Hanson vs Petersham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HansonPembroke
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Petersham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
1,185Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kLowest 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 |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% 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 | — | $1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Petersham 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Petersham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.