Compare towns
Mapleton vs Hanson vs Sturbridge vs Castle Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Castle Hill 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 | Mapleton | Hanson | Sturbridge | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
10,660Highest |
9,960 |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Whitman-Hanson | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.