Compare towns
Hanson vs Needham 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 homeowners (100%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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 | Needham | Windsor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
32,459Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hanson 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$24k 15% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr 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 |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.