What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).

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	Webster	Hanson
People
Population	17,748Highest	1,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average	44±4.3Highest 10% above MA
	Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA	$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81 30% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA	$6,429Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8%	—
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	100%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hanson and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	—
High school in town	Bartlett High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
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.