Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Proctor
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,663Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Hanson 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,032Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.