Compare towns
Buckland vs Hanson vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Buckland | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036 |
10,660Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
| Buckland and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Buckland 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Whitman Hanson Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.