Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Lakeville vs Hanson
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%).
Lakeville has the most expensive homes ($566k median).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Lakeville | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
5,736Lowest |
11,944Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±1.9Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Lakeville and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hanson 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% |
16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% 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% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lakeville 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±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$133,984±$11k 66% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$565,900±$27kHighest 70% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Lakeville and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,884±$466 33% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lakeville 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. |
$5,536Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% 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% |
57.5%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Lakeville 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #96 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Freetown-Lakeville | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Apponequet Regional High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.