Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton 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 most homeowners (89%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Hanover | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,884Lowest |
14,845Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.