Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham vs Worcester vs Chesterfield
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 expensive homes ($513k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Windham | Worcester | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±7.6 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Chesterfield 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$103,967±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,800±$48k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$409Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,969 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.