Compare towns
Douglas vs Hardwick vs Thompson vs Hanson
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%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Hardwick | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,684Lowest |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hardwick 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 89% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% 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±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.