Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hanson | Ayer | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,645Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.