Compare towns

Douglas vs Marblehead vs Hanson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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.

MeasureDouglasMarbleheadHanson
People
Population
9,207Lowest
20,413Highest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
42.8±3Lowest
7% above MA
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead and Hanson 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%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
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±$10k
46% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$132,200±$10kLowest
27% above MA
Marblehead and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
Hanson and Marblehead 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Marblehead 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%
4.4%
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Marblehead Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Douglas High School Marblehead High Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
10.7
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.