Compare towns
Hanson vs Middleton 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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,816Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 27% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Middleton 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.