Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HansonHanson
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
616Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Hanson 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,585Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pembroke and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
98% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Pembroke |
| High school in town | — | — | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.