What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Pembroke	Hanson
People
Population	18,382Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% 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	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Highest 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+	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	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	$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% 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	$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
	Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% 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	$6,585Highest 10% above MA	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#82 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Pembroke	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.