Compare towns
Webster vs Sutton vs Hanson vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Hanson | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,452Lowest |
10,660 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.