Compare towns
Hanson vs Pelham 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 homeowners (89%).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
14,449Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40%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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Pepperell 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Pelham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.