Compare towns
Douglas vs Middlesex vs Webster 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,943Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.