Compare towns
Douglas vs Dudley 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 most people working from home (20.9%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Dudley | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,929 |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dudley 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.3 |
11.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.