Compare towns
Hanson vs Sturbridge vs Windsor Locks 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).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Sturbridge | Windsor Locks | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,960 |
12,579Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Douglas 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% 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. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Windsor Locks School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Windsor Locks High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
7.7 |
8.9 |
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.