Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Thompson vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Hanover has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Thompson | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,884Lowest |
9,337 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 64% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.