Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hanson vs Hanover
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).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Pepperell | Hanson | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971 |
1,927Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44±4.3 10% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and Hanson 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% |
25%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanover and Pepperell 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 |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
— | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 15% above MA |
$6,429Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Lowest 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 | 10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.