Compare towns
Hanson vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Sheffield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
3,330Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest 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 |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below 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 |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Sheffield and Hanson 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 |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Southern Berkshire | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Mt Everett Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.8 |
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.