Compare towns
Pepperell vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Oakham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,639Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Hanson 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.