Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Hanson | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Douglas 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Harvard 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Harvard |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.