Compare towns
Hanson vs Rutland 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 the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Rutland | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,353Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Rutland 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 27% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rutland 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 5% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% 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 |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Wachusett | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.