Compare towns
Douglas vs Berlin vs Webster vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,378Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas 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 46% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| 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 15% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| 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 6% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Berlin-Boylston | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.