Compare towns
Hanson vs Newfields vs Douglas vs Middleton
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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Newfields | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,207 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 64% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Hanson 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Douglas 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 | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Newfields School District | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.