Compare towns
Wendell vs Hanson vs New Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
New Braintree has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Wendell | Hanson | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
10,660Highest |
973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
47.8±4.6Highest 20% above MA |
| New Braintree and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Braintree and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$99,500±$8k 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$408,800±$27k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,484±$316 16% below MA |
| Hanson and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$5,508 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | New Salem-Wendell | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.