What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most people working from home (12.9%).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	10,660Lowest	14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA
	Hanson and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
	Hanson and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	14.2Lowest
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.