Compare towns
Framingham 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
Framingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Framingham | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
10,660Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest 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+ | 48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Framingham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.