Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Worcester vs Pepperell
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Worcester | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660 |
831Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% 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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Pepperell 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Douglas 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | 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 | 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.