Compare towns
Hanson vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Townsend | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,100Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,585Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Middlesex Regional | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.1 |
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.