Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Marion
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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
| Douglas and Marion 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 |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% 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 | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Marion |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.