Compare towns
Hanson vs Middlesex vs Windsor vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Windsor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
1,943Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 48% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$115,563±$10k 43% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Windsor 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.