Compare towns
Hanson vs Lancaster vs Middleton
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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.