Compare towns
Hanson vs Marion 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Marion | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
5,310Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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 |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% 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 | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Hanson 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Marion | 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 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.