Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Douglas vs Hanover
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 homeowners (89%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
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 | Ayer | Douglas | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% 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 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.5 |
7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.