Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Wareham 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Pepperell | Wareham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
23,302Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Wareham 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 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wareham 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Wareham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 8.6 |
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.