Compare towns
West Boylston vs Hopedale vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | West Boylston | Hopedale | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,782 |
6,027Lowest |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
44.4±5.2 11% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| West Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 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+ | 25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 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 | $104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$115,722±$19k 11% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
$466,100±$28k 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 | $1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 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 | $6,115Lowest about the MA average |
$6,868Highest 15% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 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 | 6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and West Boylston 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 | #97 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | West Boylston | Hopedale | Douglas |
| High school in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High | Hopedale Jr Sr High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
10.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.