Compare towns
Hanson vs Dover 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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Hanson | Dover | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
2,308Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Hanson 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
— | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hanson 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.