What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Washburn
People
Population	10,660Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
	Washburn and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Washburn 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%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washburn and Hanson 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	—
School district	Whitman-Hanson	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.