The Town FilesHanson, Massachusetts
Town in Plymouth County · population 10,639 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $533,900
- Household income
- $132,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.8
Hanson is a town of 10,639 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $533,900, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Massachusetts towns, more of a college town than 79% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 76% of Massachusetts towns.
How Hanson ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hanson is worth $533,900, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $132,200, which is more affordable than 74% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,821 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hanson | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $533,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,821 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $132,200 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Hanson
| People | Hanson | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Hanson
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanson since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 18, 1967 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Plymouth County since 1996
Plymouth County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Plymouth County
Plymouth County had 194,985 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,858 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Hanson itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Hanson
2 public schools with 922 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Head | K-4 | 498 | 14.6 |
| Hanson Middle School | 5-8 | 424 | 11.8 |
Towns near Hanson
- Halifax, MA3.3 mi · 7,749 people · home $481,500
- Pembroke, MA3.4 mi · 18,361 people · home $586,500
- East Bridgewater, MA3.9 mi · 14,440 people · home $510,200
- Whitman, MA4.2 mi · 15,121 people · home $472,700
- Hanover, MA5.1 mi · 14,833 people · home $755,400
- North Pembroke, MA5.4 mi · 3,490 people · home $536,000
- Rockland, MA5.9 mi · 17,803 people · home $472,900
- Abington, MA6.5 mi · 17,062 people · home $539,600
Hanson questions
Is Hanson, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hanson scores better for retirees than 21% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 55%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Hanson?
The median owner-occupied home in Hanson is valued at $533,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $132,200, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,821 a month.
What is the weather like in Hanson?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 34.3 inches of snow.
Does Hanson get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 18, 1967. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)