Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Hanson vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k 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 | Brookline | Hanson | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,736 |
10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Dunstable 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.