Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Windsor vs Plympton
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).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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.
| Measure | Hanson | Reading | Windsor | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
25,612Highest |
1,065Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Reading 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% |
38.4% 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% |
3.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plympton 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 |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Reading 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
93.1% 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 |
1981Highest 17 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | — | Plympton |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.