Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Marblehead vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Hanson | Marblehead | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
20,413Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Hanson 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Marblehead 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Hanson and Marblehead 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.