Compare towns
Hanson vs Ware vs Windsor vs Pembroke
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Ware | Windsor | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
10,048 |
1,065Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
| Pembroke 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±$55k 9% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,585Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% 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 |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | — | Pembroke |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.