Compare towns
Pembroke vs Pepperell vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Pembroke | Pepperell | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
11,663Lowest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke and Hanover 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pembroke | North Middlesex | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Pembroke High School | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.