What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

Chester has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Chester
People
Population	10,660Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Chester and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Hanson 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.	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Hanson and Chester 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.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Hanson 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.