Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hanson vs Dunstable
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
10,660Highest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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 |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dunstable 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.