Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dover vs Dunstable 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dunstable has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Hanson has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Dover | Dunstable | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,930 |
3,408Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dunstable 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Dover and Hanson 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.