Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Windsor vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Windsor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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 27% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| 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 5% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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 |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | — | 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 |
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.