Compare towns
Hanson vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Hanson
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 highest household income ($132k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Hanson 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Putnam 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.