Compare towns
Douglas vs Windham vs Hanson vs Lunenburg
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 highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Lunenburg has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
594Lowest |
10,660 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% 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±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hanson 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. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Whitman-Hanson | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
12.4 |
| 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.