Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Douglas vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Pepperell | Douglas | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,971Lowest |
9,207 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 27% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$6,871 15% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Douglas | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.