Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
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 | Halifax | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
16,038Highest |
7,748Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest 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. |
41.9±4.7 8% 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% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% 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%±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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kLowest 47% 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. |
$481,500±$51k 45% 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. |
$1,804±$375 28% 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. |
$6,840 119% 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% |
45.6%±37.4 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%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. |
1979 1 yr older 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Windham School District | Halifax | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.