Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Windsor vs Hanson
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Reading | Windsor | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
25,612Highest |
1,065Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Windsor 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— | $1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.