Compare towns
Douglas vs Halifax vs Hanson 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | Halifax | Hanson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,748 |
1,927Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| 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±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
— | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
— | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Halifax | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | — | 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.