Compare towns
Pepperell vs Putney vs Hanson vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Putney | Hanson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,622Lowest |
10,660 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.