Compare towns
Douglas vs Stoneham vs Webster 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 highest household income ($152k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.
| Measure | Douglas | Stoneham | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
23,355Highest |
17,748 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson 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% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas 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 |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Stoneham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Stoneham | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Stoneham High | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.7 |
11.6 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.