Compare towns
Hanson vs Milford 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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Milford | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
16,337Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Hanson 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%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% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above 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. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Milford 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. |
$7,522Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Milford 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Milford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.