Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainfield vs Suffield 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
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Plainfield | Suffield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
15,141 |
15,702Highest |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Suffield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Suffield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Suffield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
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.