Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hanson vs Putnam 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
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Dunstable | Hanson | Putnam | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
10,660 |
9,292 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.