What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Dudley
People
Population	10,660Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
	Hanson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Hanson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Dudley 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	14.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.