Compare towns
Hanson vs Westminster vs Ripton vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
497Lowest |
508 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,585Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ripton 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% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Pembroke 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.