Compare towns
Douglas vs Epping vs Hanson vs Sutton
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 highest household income ($152k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Epping | Hanson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,430Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sutton 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Epping 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 89% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% 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±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Epping School District | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Epping High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.3 |
14.7Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.