Compare towns
Pepperell vs Bernardston 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Bernardston | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,164Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Bernardston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston 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% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below 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 |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Bernardston 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Pioneer Valley | 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 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.