Compare towns
Hanson vs Washington vs Plainfield vs Pepperell
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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Plainfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,676Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% 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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Pepperell 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% 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. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Pepperell 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.