Compare towns
Hanson vs Stafford vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Stafford | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,511Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Upton 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% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Upton 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest 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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hanson 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±$85 23% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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 | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,131Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Upton 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% |
3.2% 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% |
86.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Stafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stafford High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8 |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.