Compare towns
Hanson vs Monroe vs Rowe
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Monroe | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
122Lowest |
453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Monroe and Rowe 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% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe 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 MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 27% above MA |
— | $69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
— | $1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rowe 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% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanson and Rowe 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 | — | — |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.