Compare towns
Devens 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
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Devens | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,207 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Devens and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Devens and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Lowest 15% 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 | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.