Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Webster
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Hanson 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.