Compare towns
Douglas vs Groton vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,390 |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hanson 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Groton 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% 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 | $6,338 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below 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% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.7 |
11.6 |
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.