Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Thompson
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 highest household income ($132k).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Pepperell | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,971Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.