Compare towns
Pepperell vs Millis 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Millis | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,888Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Millis 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Millis 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Millis | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.