What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Hadley
People
Population	10,660Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley and Hanson 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%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA
	Hanson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
	Hanson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
	Hanson and Hadley 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	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Hadley 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%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Hadley
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.