Compare towns
Hanson vs Dunstable vs Sutton vs Pembroke
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 renters (11% rent).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Sutton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
9,452 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Pembroke 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | Sutton | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Sutton High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.6 |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.