Compare towns
Hanson vs Stow 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 the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Stow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,165Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Hanson 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke 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±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$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 | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Stow 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba | 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 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.