Compare towns
Hanson vs Walpole vs Westminster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,690 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Hanson 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Westminster 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 64% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.