Compare towns
Pepperell vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Salem | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
30,964Highest |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Salem 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Hanson 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% 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. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Salem School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.