Compare towns
Hanson vs Hollis vs Pepperell 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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hollis | Pepperell | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,603 |
1,971Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Hollis 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 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. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Hollis 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.