Compare towns
Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Pembroke
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 affordable homes ($534k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Hanson 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Pembroke 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Needham 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Needham 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Needham | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Needham High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.