Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hanson vs Putnam
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Hanson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
10,660 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 115% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.