Compare towns
Hanson vs Lawrence vs Sutton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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 | Lawrence | Sutton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
88,736Highest |
9,452Lowest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Pembroke 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Sutton and Pembroke 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 |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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 |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Pembroke 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Lawrence | Sutton | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lawrence High School | Sutton High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.6 |
12.6 |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.