Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hanson vs Pepperell vs Douglas
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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Hanson | Pepperell | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
10,660 |
1,971Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.