Compare towns
Proctor vs Hanson vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Proctor | Hanson | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
10,660Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Proctor 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 | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Whitman-Hanson | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.