Compare towns
Hanson vs Exeter vs Pepperell vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Exeter | Pepperell | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
16,151Highest |
11,663 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 64% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.