Compare towns
Pepperell vs Douglas vs Hanson vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Douglas | Hanson | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,207Lowest |
10,660 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Douglas 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Groton 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 19% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.