Compare towns
Pepperell vs Mapleton vs Lunenburg vs Hanson
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Lunenburg | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
1,884Lowest |
11,902Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hanson 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lunenburg | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Lowest |
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.