What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	10,660Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Hanson 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%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence 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	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA
	Hanson and Lawrence 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	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Lawrence 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%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hanson and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Lawrence
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.