Compare towns
Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield 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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Wakefield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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 60% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hanson 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.