Compare towns
Hanson vs Middleton vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Middleton | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,816Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Middleton 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. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Woonsocket 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
| 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.