Compare towns

Hanson vs Lyndeborough vs Douglas

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Lyndeborough 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.

MeasureHansonLyndeboroughDouglas
People
Population
10,660Highest
1,616Lowest
9,207
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyndeborough 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
64% above U.S.
$116,964±$17kLowest
45% above U.S.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
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
60% above U.S.
$390,900±$26kLowest
17% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
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
29% above U.S.
$1,482±$457Lowest
5% above U.S.
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
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
105% above U.S.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,338Lowest
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
27% above U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Lyndeborough 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
School district Whitman-Hanson Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District 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

U.S. 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.