Compare towns
Hanson vs Webster vs Halifax 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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster | Halifax | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
2,227Lowest |
7,748 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Halifax 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Webster 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Merrimack Valley School District | Halifax | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 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.