Compare towns

Hanson vs Devens 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).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Chesterfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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.

MeasureHansonDevensChesterfield
People
Population
1,927Highest
1,723
1,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-2.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±4.3Lowest
10% above MA
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
44.3±7.6
11% above MA
Devens and Chesterfield 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%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
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%
14%±5Lowest
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%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
34.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Devens 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±$24k
15% above MA
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$103,967±$11kLowest
about the MA average
Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$513,000±$55k
9% below MA
$556,800±$96kHighest
about the MA average
$390,800±$48kLowest
30% below MA
Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,500±$539Highest
15% below MA
$1,078±$409Lowest
39% below MA
Devens 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
$5,556Lowest
7% below MA
$5,969
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
10.3%±84.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Devens 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%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
92.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
26% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.4%±6.7
MA: 18.6%
Devens and Chesterfield 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 — —
School district — — Chesterfield-Goshen
High school in town — — None in town
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.