Compare towns
Hanson vs Shirley vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Shirley | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
6,976Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 27% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,585Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.