Compare towns
Hanson vs Halifax vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Halifax | Pembroke | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
7,748Lowest |
18,382Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pembroke 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% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Halifax 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 |
$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 5% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,585 10% 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% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Halifax | Pembroke | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.