Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanson vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Brookline | Hanson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,927Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.