Compare towns
Pepperell vs Putnam vs Townsend 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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Putnam | Townsend | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,292 |
9,100Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Townsend 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Putnam School District | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | North Middlesex Regional | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.1 |
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.