Compare towns
Hanson vs Sutton vs Union 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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 | Union | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,452 |
2,663Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$146,285±$17k 81% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.