Compare towns
Hanson vs Rowley vs Upton vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Rowley | Upton | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
| Upton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
| Hanson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.