Compare towns
Hanson vs Dunstable vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most people working from home (20%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Dunstable | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,408Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.