Compare towns
Brookline vs Douglas vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Brookline | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
9,207 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Douglas 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.