Compare towns
Hanson vs Barre 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 kids (25% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Barre | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
5,572Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% 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% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Chesterfield 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%±5.6Lowest 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% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre 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 |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$103,967±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Hanson and Barre 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 |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$390,800±$48kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,078±$409Highest 39% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Barre 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 |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$5,969 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Barre 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% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.