What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).

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	Newfields	Hanson
People
Population	2,023Highest	1,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Newfields and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$119,211±$24kLowest 48% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$513,000±$55kLowest 54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323 33% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,429Lowest 106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.