Compare towns
Pepperell vs Somers vs Suffield 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).
Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 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 | Somers | Suffield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
10,308Lowest |
15,702Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Somers 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% |
21.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Somers 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% |
19.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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. |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Somers 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. |
$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Somers 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Somers School District | Suffield School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Somers High School | Suffield High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
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.