Compare towns
Hanson vs Dunstable vs Douglas vs Hanson
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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Dunstable | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,408 |
9,207 |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | 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 | 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.