Compare towns

Pepperell vs Killingly vs Hanson vs Dunstable

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.

MeasurePepperellKillinglyHansonDunstable
People
Population
11,663
17,867Highest
10,660
3,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.8±3Highest
10% above U.S.
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
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%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dunstable and Hanson 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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
54% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,325±$637
6% below U.S.
Hanson and Dunstable 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,402
105% above U.S.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Dunstable 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #136 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA #4 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Whitman-Hanson Groton-Dunstable
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Whitman Hanson Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
14.7Highest
—
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.