Compare towns
Hanson vs Norton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Norton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
19,240Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| 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%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Hanson and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Norton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Norton 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Norton 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Norton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Norton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.