Compare towns
Hanson vs Acton 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Acton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
24,155Highest |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44±4.3 10% above MA |
| Acton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
— |
| Acton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hanson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.