Compare towns
Pepperell vs Chaplin vs Union 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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Chaplin | Union | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Pepperell 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 54% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hanson 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | — | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.