Compare towns
Hanson vs Smithfield vs Douglas vs Hanover
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 homeowners (89%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
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 | Smithfield | Douglas | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
22,233Highest |
9,207Lowest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Hanover 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #177 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Smithfield | Douglas | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Smithfield High School | Douglas High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.8 |
7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.