Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Sutton vs Douglas
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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sutton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,663Highest |
790Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% 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% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% 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% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 min 28% 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% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.