Compare towns
Douglas vs Groton vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($471k median).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Groton | Hanover | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,390 |
14,845Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
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%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hanover 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% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Groton 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% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$189,803±$23k 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Groton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Hanover and Groton 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 |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Hanover and Hanson 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.7 |
10.3 |
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.