What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	West Springfield Town
People
Population	10,660Lowest	28,772Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	40.1±2.6Lowest 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%	18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and West Springfield Town 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%	17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and West Springfield Town 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%	34%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	West Springfield Town 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 27% above MA	$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA
	Hanson and West Springfield Town 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	$4,380Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	60.1%±9.1Lowest 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%	11.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Springfield Town and Hanson 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	#218 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	West Springfield
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	West Springfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.