Compare towns

Douglas vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
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.

MeasureDouglasRowleyHanson
People
Population
9,207
6,251Lowest
10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
42.8±3Lowest
7% above MA
Rowley 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
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5Lowest
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%
21.6%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Rowley 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
$132,734±$32k
28% above MA
$132,200±$10kLowest
27% above MA
Douglas and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$667,300±$52kHighest
19% above MA
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$1,603±$520
9% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
Hanson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
28 minLowest
3% below MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Triton Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Douglas High School None in town Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.