Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham vs Hanover 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 homeowners (89%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Hanover | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
19,188Highest |
14,845 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% 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. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest 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% |
4.1%±1.6 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson 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. |
$9,342Highest 200% 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% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% 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. |
1978 2 yrs 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 |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 14 | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1 |
10.3Lowest |
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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.