What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).

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	Weare	Douglas
People
Population	9,170Lowest	9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Weare and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Weare and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Douglas and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Douglas and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kLowest 46% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Weare and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Lowest 101% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Weare and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1986 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	Douglas
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.