Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Plympton
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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$126,736±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson 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±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Hanson and Plympton 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 |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% 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 |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Plympton 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% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Plympton |
| 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 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.