What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).

Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Washington
People
Population	10,660Highest	3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.
	Washington 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 U.S.: 22%	19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Washington 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%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington and Hanson 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.	$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kLowest 60% above U.S.	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.
	Washington and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Hanson and Washington 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.	$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Washington 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%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#17 of 149 in CT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Regional School District 12
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.