Compare towns
Hanson vs Needham vs Douglas vs Middleton
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Needham | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
32,459Highest |
9,207Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Douglas High School | None in town |
| 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.