Compare towns
Pepperell vs Groton 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).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Groton | Dunstable | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
11,390 |
3,408Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
17.3%±2.8 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% |
70.1%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% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Dunstable and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Groton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Groton 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% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Dunstable 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.