Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham vs Halifax 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Windham | Halifax | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
19,188Highest |
7,748Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Halifax 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 64% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #120 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 14 | Halifax | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.