What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Pepperell
People
Population	1,927Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±4.3Highest 10% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 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	25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest 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+	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
	Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,295±$238 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,429Lowest 7% above MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pepperell and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Middlesex
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.