Compare towns
Hanson vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Pembroke
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 (21.6% under 18).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,585Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Plainfield High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.