What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Hopkinton	Douglas
People
Population	19,358Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	77.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA	$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$802,700±$39kHighest 43% above MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hopkinton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA	1986Lowest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#5 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopkinton	Douglas
High school in town	Hopkinton High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	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.