Compare towns
Pepperell vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam 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%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
12,579Highest |
9,292Lowest |
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±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putnam 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
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.