Compare towns
Bath vs Hanson vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Bath | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
10,660 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bath and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and Pepperell 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.