Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rye 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 affordable homes ($482k median).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
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 | Rye | Dunstable | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,611 |
3,408Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% 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. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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% |
61.5% 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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Rye 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% 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% |
85.5% 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. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% 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% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | 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.