Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell 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
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Pepperell | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,971Lowest |
10,660 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell 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% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest 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% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.