Compare towns
Hanson vs Holbrook vs Townsend
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Hanson | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,380Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Hanson and Townsend 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 |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Hanson and Townsend 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 |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.3 |
13.1Lowest |
| 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.