Compare towns

Douglas vs Danvers 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).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

MeasureDouglasDanversHanson
People
Population
9,207Lowest
28,098Highest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
42.8±3Lowest
7% above MA
Danvers 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%
17.2%±2Lowest
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%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3
MA: 17.9%
Danvers 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%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
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
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above 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±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,821±$860
3% above MA
Danvers 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
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Danvers 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%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas and Danvers 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 #91 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Douglas High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
12.8
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.