Compare towns
Hanson vs Dunstable vs Hanover
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 most affordable homes ($534k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Dunstable | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$189,803±$23k 83% above MA |
| Dunstable and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Hanover 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.