Compare towns
Hanson vs Ashby vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Hanson | Ashby | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,211Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 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+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% 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 | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Ashby 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.