Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanover vs Middleton vs Webster
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%).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hanover | Middleton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
14,845 |
9,816 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Middleton 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Middleton 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Hanover and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Hanover and Middleton 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 |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Hanover 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Middleton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.