Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham vs Hanson 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 highest household income ($132k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Windham | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
594Lowest |
1,927 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Hanson 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1Lowest 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±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$119,211±$24k 48% 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$513,000±$55k 54% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | — | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,429 106% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±5.6 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.