Compare towns
Hanson vs Pepperell vs Windham vs Middleton
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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Windham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,663Highest |
594Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middleton 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton 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±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Middleton 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% 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% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex | — | Middleton |
| 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 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.