Compare towns
Brookline vs Pepperell vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Brookline | Pepperell | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,971Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.