Compare towns
Hanover vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam vs Pembroke
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 most kids (26.1% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Putnam | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
12,579 |
9,292Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pembroke and Putnam 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pembroke 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±$13k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$146,285±$17k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanover 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Windsor Locks 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Hanover 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.