What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most homeowners (83.8%).

Framingham has the most renters (45.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Framingham
People
Population	9,207Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas and Framingham 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%	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Framingham 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA
	Framingham and Douglas 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	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Douglas High School	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.