Compare towns
Hanson vs Stafford vs Douglas
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Stafford | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,511Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Stafford 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| 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±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,131Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Stafford 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 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. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Stafford School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stafford High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.