Compare towns
Hancock vs Windham vs Worcester vs New Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Hancock | Windham | Worcester | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 752 |
594Lowest |
831 |
973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 21% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 67% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,508 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hancock | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.