Compare towns

Pepperell vs Fall River 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasurePepperellFall RiverHanson
People
Population
11,663
94,082Highest
10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3
6% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
42.8±3Highest
7% above MA
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%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Pepperell and Hanson 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
19% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$132,200±$10kHighest
27% above MA
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
14% below MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$533,900±$36kHighest
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238
27% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,698Highest
12% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
18.1%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #153 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Whitman-Hanson
High school in town None in town B M C Durfee High Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.