Compare towns
Douglas vs Devens vs Hanson vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Devens | Hanson | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,723Lowest |
10,660 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Devens and Douglas 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 |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Devens 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 |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Whitman-Hanson | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.