Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.