Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
15,141Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sturbridge 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.