Compare towns
Hanson vs Upton vs Needham vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Upton | Needham | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Rutland 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Needham 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
| Needham and Hanson 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | 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.