Compare towns

Douglas vs Gray 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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.

MeasureDouglasGrayHanson
People
Population
9,207
8,429Lowest
10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
Douglas and Gray 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%
19%±4Lowest
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%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanson and Gray 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%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
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
41% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
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
6% above U.S.
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME #149 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Douglas High School Gray-New Gloucester High School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
12.5
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.