Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Douglas vs Pepperell
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Reading | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
699Lowest |
9,207 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| 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.