Compare towns
Hanson vs Walpole 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 population (median age 42.8).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Walpole | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
26,388Highest |
9,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Rutland 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% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Walpole 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.