Compare towns
Douglas vs Needham vs Hanson vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Needham | Hanson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,660 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Needham and Hanson 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Needham | Whitman-Hanson | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Needham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.9 |
14.7Highest |
7.9 |
| 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.