What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Charlton
People
Population	9,207Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Douglas and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton 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%	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Charlton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
	Douglas and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,381±$415Lowest 22% below MA
	Douglas and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Charlton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1985Lowest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Douglas High School	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.