Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Webster vs Lunenburg
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 people working from home (20.9%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Webster | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
17,748Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| 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 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Hanson 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% 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 |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.6 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.