Compare towns
Douglas vs Windham vs Hanson vs Sutton
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 affordable homes ($471k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Windham | Hanson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
16,038Highest |
10,660 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hanson 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Windham School District | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Windham High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.8 |
14.7Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.