Compare towns
Hanover vs Windsor Locks vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Hanover | Windsor Locks | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
12,579 |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windsor Locks 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Windsor Locks High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.

