Compare towns
Pepperell vs Union vs Upton 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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Union | Upton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
944Lowest |
8,189 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Union and Upton 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hanson 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 45% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hanson 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
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.