Compare towns
Barre vs Douglas vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Barre | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,207 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Douglas and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.