Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Rutland
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Reading | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
699Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,657Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Rutland 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 | — | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.