Compare towns
Hanson vs Athol vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Chesterfield has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Hanson | Athol | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
12,011Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44.3±7.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Chesterfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$103,967±$11k about the MA average |
| Hanson and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Athol and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,969 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Hanson 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.