Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading 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 homeowners (100%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
25,612Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
| Reading and Hanson 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.