Compare towns
Hanson vs Ashburnham vs Brooklyn
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 ($534k median).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Ashburnham | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
6,415Lowest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ashburnham-Westminster | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.