What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

Norton has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Norton
People
Population	10,660Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA
	Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
	Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Hanson 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	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Norton 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%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Norton
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.