Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Pepperell
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.