Compare towns
Douglas vs Durham vs Sutton vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
15,080Highest |
9,452 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Oyster River Coop School District | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Oyster River High School | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.3 |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.