Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Thompson 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
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
9,337 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.