Compare towns
Hanson vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
6,976Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Shirley and Hanson 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hanson and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | 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.