Compare towns

Hanson vs Windham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureHansonWindhamDouglas
People
Population
10,660
16,038Highest
9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
Douglas and Hanson 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Hanson 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%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanson and Windham 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
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±$10kLowest
64% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$470,600±$29kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,821±$860
29% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,503±$697Lowest
6% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,402
105% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,338Lowest
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #177 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson Windham School District Douglas
High school in town Whitman Hanson Regional Windham High School Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
12.8
7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.