Compare towns
Pepperell vs Reading vs Dunstable 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 renters (15.7% rent).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Reading | Dunstable | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
699Lowest |
3,408 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Hanson 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Dunstable 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.