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.
| Measure | Hanson | Windham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.

