Compare towns
Hanson vs Hatfield vs Windsor vs Oakham
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).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Hatfield | Windsor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
3,325Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Oakham 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Oakham 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Hanson and Windsor 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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
— | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Hatfield and Oakham 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Oakham 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Hatfield | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.