Compare towns
Webster vs Mapleton vs Hanson vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
West Springfield Town 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 | Webster | Mapleton | Hanson | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,884Lowest |
10,660 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and West Springfield Town 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Whitman-Hanson | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.