Compare towns
Rutland vs Ware vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Rutland | Ware | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,353Lowest |
10,048 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Ware and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$170 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,657 6% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±26.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Ware 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 | #150 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.