What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Somerset
People
Population	9,207Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
	Somerset and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Somerset 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%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Somerset 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	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
	Douglas and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$4,977Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	Douglas High School	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.