Compare towns
Douglas vs Maynard vs Stow 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 the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | Maynard | Stow | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,712Highest |
7,165Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Stow 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Nashoba | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.