What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).

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	Lunenburg	Hanson
People
Population	11,902Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
	Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
	Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 7% above MA	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs newer than MA	1972 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#87 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.