Compare towns
Hanson vs Dover vs Halifax 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% 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 | Hanson | Dover | Halifax | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
5,930Lowest |
7,748 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Dover and Douglas 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Halifax 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% 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 |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Halifax | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.