Compare towns
Hanson vs Worcester vs Windsor vs Oakham
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Oakham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Worcester | Windsor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927Highest |
831Lowest |
1,065 |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Oakham 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Oakham 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$115,563±$10k 43% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Windsor 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakham 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Quabbin |
| 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.