Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Reading | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
25,612Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Douglas and Reading 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hanson 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Reading and Douglas 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Reading | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.1 |
— |
| 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.