Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ashby vs Hanson
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 (15.7% rent).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Ashby | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
3,211Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| 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.