Compare towns
Middleton vs Peterborough vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Peterborough | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
2,539Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
55.5±9.2Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$85,833±$15kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$379,300±$57kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,515±$290 7% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$7,422 138% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peterborough and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.