Compare towns
Hanson vs Windsor vs Putnam 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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Windsor | Putnam | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
1,065Lowest |
9,292 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Windsor 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% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$115,563±$10k 43% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 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. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Putnam School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.