Compare towns
Hanson vs Mason vs Townsend
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Mason | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,451Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 64% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mason 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Mason School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.