Compare towns
Hanson vs Sutton vs Lawrence vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
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 | Sutton | Lawrence | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,452Lowest |
88,736Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Hanover 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Hanover and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Hanover 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Lawrence | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
13.6 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.