Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,884Lowest |
17,748Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
25.3%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Mapleton 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% 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. |
$3,999 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest 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. |
1962Lowest 18 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. |
31 min 16% 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% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bartlett High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.6 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.