Compare towns
Hanson vs Halifax vs Douglas 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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Halifax | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,748Lowest |
9,207 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Douglas 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±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Halifax | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.