What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	10,660Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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 5% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Hanson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	7.7Lowest
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.