Compare towns

Windham vs Hanson vs Brookline vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 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.

MeasureWindhamHansonBrooklineRipton
People
Population
594
10,660Highest
531
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
Hanson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Lowest
23% above U.S.
—
Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham 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 — Whitman-Hanson — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Whitman Hanson Regional — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
— —
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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.