Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Gardner vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Gardner | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,452Lowest |
21,148Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Sutton 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 14% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Gardner | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Gardner High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
13.5 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.