Compare towns
Douglas vs Putnam vs Upton 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
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Putnam | Upton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,120Lowest |
8,189 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hanson 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. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Upton 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Blackstone Valley | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
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.