Compare towns

Douglas vs Hanson vs Ripton

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 the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureDouglasHansonRipton
People
Population
9,207
10,660Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%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%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
40% above U.S.
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.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above 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±$697Lowest
6% above U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above 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.
$4,915Lowest
58% 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%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Ripton 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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Ripton 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 —
School district Douglas Whitman-Hanson Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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

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.