What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopedale has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopedale	Douglas
People
Population	6,027Lowest	9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
	Douglas and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 15% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopedale	Douglas
High school in town	Hopedale Jr Sr High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.