What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Sheffield
People
Population	10,660Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA
	Sheffield 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 MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield 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 MA: 47.3%	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Sheffield 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 27% above MA	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA
	Hanson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA
	Sheffield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sheffield 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	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.