Compare towns
Douglas vs Groton vs Topsfield 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 kids (28.3% under 18).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Topsfield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
11,390Highest |
6,564Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%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 |
42.2±1.8 6% 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% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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±$27k 86% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| 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 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.7 |
— | 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.