What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

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

Measure	Hanson	Griswold
People
Population	10,660Lowest	11,530Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.
	Griswold 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%	18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Griswold 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%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson and Griswold 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%	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson and Griswold 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.	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Hanson and Griswold 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.	$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±15.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Griswold 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	#118 of 149 in CT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Griswold School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.