Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Walpole
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%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,663Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%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% |
4%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% 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. |
$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.