Compare towns
Hanson vs Lancaster vs Webster
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Lancaster | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,606Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 27% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Hanson 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Hanson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba | Webster |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.