Compare towns
Hanson vs Thompson vs Sturbridge
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Hanson | Thompson | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,337Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Sturbridge 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Thompson School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.