Compare towns
Hanson vs Sturbridge vs Windsor
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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
9,960Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Hanson 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 |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor 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%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.