Compare towns
Danielson vs Hanson vs Putnam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Danielson | Hanson | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
10,660Highest |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 29% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.