Compare towns
Hanson vs Upton vs Putnam vs Plympton
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 kids (25% under 18).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Upton | Putnam | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
8,189 |
9,292Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Plympton 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 48% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$126,736±$20k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Upton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Plympton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Plympton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District | Plympton |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.