Compare towns
Hanson vs Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Lancaster | Mapleton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,606 |
1,884Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.