Compare towns
Hanson vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,120Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Plainfield 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
18.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% 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 | $6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Plainfield 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.