Compare towns
Hanson vs Washington vs Brooklyn
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 highest household income ($132k).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
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 | Washington | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,676Lowest |
8,517 |
| 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. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Washington and Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Brooklyn 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±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below 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±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% 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. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Brooklyn 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Regional School District 12 | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.