Compare towns
Douglas vs Ripton vs Webster 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Ripton | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
508Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above 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. |
— | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Ripton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
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.