Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hingham 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hanson has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Hingham | Hanson | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
24,283Highest |
10,660 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Hingham and Hanson 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 |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 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 |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hingham | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.