Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Washburn 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Washburn | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Washburn 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$6,698Highest 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% |
33.3%±24.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below 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% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.