Compare towns
Hanson vs Sutton vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Sutton | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| 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 3% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.