Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Lynnfield
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).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Lynnfield 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Douglas 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 |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Hanson 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% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lynnfield 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.