Compare towns
Douglas vs Newfields vs Thompson 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 most renters (16.2% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Newfields | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,023Lowest |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Newfields School District | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9 |
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.