Compare towns
Hanson vs Glocester vs Hanover vs Pepperell
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Glocester | Hanover | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
10,221Lowest |
14,845Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester 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% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,248Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #69 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ponaganset High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.