What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Hopedale has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Hopedale
People
Population	9,207Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA
	Hopedale 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 MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale 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%	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale and Douglas 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 MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA
	Douglas and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Hopedale
High school in town	Douglas High School	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	10.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.