Compare towns
Douglas vs Wolfeboro vs Thompson vs Hanson
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).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Wolfeboro | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,571Lowest |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Thompson 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas 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. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
7.9 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.