Compare towns
Hanson vs Windsor Locks vs Douglas vs Halifax
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Douglas | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
12,579Highest |
9,207 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 64% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Windsor Locks School District | Douglas | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windsor Locks High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
8.9 |
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.