Compare towns
Pepperell vs Halifax vs Hanson vs Dunstable
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 renters (15.7% rent).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Halifax | Hanson | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
7,748 |
10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax 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 |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 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% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
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| 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.