Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Pinehurst vs Hanover
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Pinehurst | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,663 |
6,845Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Pinehurst 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 |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Hanover and Pinehurst 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 |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Hanover 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.