Compare towns
Douglas vs Boylston 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 most affordable homes ($471k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Boylston | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
4,948Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Boylston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Douglas and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Boylston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Berlin-Boylston | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Tahanto Regional High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.