Compare towns
Hanson vs Rye vs Sutton 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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Rye | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
5,611Lowest |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Sutton 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Rye School District | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.