What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville
People
Population	10,660Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville 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%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Hanson and Plainville 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.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Plainville 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%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.