Compare towns

Windham vs Hanson vs Brookline vs Townshend

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasureWindhamHansonBrooklineTownshend
People
Population
594
10,660Highest
531Lowest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%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.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend 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%
12%±2.6Lowest
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%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$78,750±$29kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below 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.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Hanson 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
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.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer 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.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Brookline 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 — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — Whitman Hanson Regional — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7Highest
—
8.1Lowest
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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.