Compare towns
Hanson vs Dunstable vs Pepperell vs Halifax
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Halifax 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 | Dunstable | Pepperell | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
11,663Highest |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% 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%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Halifax 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.