Compare towns
Douglas vs Putnam 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
9,292 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Putnam School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Putnam High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.5 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

