Compare towns
Douglas vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($152k).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,758Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.