Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hampton vs Hanson vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Hampton | Hanson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
16,426Highest |
10,660 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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 54% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.