Compare towns
Hanson vs Morris 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).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Morris | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
2,164Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Morris 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. |
$109,191±$25kLowest 35% 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. |
$396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,204±$134Lowest 15% 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. |
$5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Morris 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Regional School District 20 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.