Compare towns

Pepperell vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.

MeasurePepperellSuttonHanson
People
Population
11,663Highest
2,239Lowest
10,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3Lowest
9% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell and Sutton 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.
$130,313±$31k
61% above U.S.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
Hanson and Sutton 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.
$362,600±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
Hanson and Sutton 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.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$6,402Lowest
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pepperell and Sutton 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 — #149 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Kearsarge Regional School District Whitman-Hanson
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.