Compare towns
Hanson vs Plympton 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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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.
| Measure | Hanson | Plympton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
2,935Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Plympton 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton 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 MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 27% above MA |
$126,736±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% 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 |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Plympton 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% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Plympton | 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.