Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lawrence vs Hanson
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Lawrence | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
88,736Highest |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lawrence | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.