Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
25,612Highest |
9,207Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Hanson 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%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% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% 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% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%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 |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older 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 |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Reading | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Reading Memorial High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1 |
7.2Lowest |
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| 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.