Compare towns
Hanson vs Webster vs Lancaster vs Hanover
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 homeowners (89%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Webster | Lancaster | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
17,748Highest |
8,606Lowest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Lancaster 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | Nashoba | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.6 |
— | 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.