Compare towns
Hanson vs Lee 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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
5,719Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton 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±$36k 5% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Hanson and Middleton 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Middleton 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Lee | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.