Compare towns
Hanson vs Douglas vs Rutland
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).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Douglas | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,207Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 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% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
| Douglas and Rutland 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Rutland 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.