Compare towns
Hanson vs Webster vs West Springfield Town
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 highest household income ($132k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Webster | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
17,748 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Hanson and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town 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 27% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Springfield Town and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.