Compare towns
Douglas vs Berlin vs Thompson 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
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Douglas | Berlin | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,378Lowest |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Berlin-Boylston | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.