Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hanover vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Pepperell | Hanover | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
14,845Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Hanover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 15% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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 | 10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Douglas |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.