Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Mendon vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
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 | Douglas | Hanson | Mendon | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660 |
6,325Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Mendon and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Douglas and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Mendon and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.