Compare towns
Hanson vs Wareham vs Douglas vs Middleton
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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Wareham | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
23,302Highest |
9,207Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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 MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 27% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Hanson and Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Wareham | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Wareham Senior High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
8.6 |
7.2Lowest |
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| 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.